Troops from D Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment have been evaluating the L351A1, the British Army’s designation for the Mossberg 590M, as part of ongoing counter-UAS experimentation. The platform represents a tactical evolution in close-range air defense, offering ground units rapid-response capability against small unmanned aircraft systems operating at low altitude.
The 590M’s box magazine-fed design provides enhanced capacity and faster magazine changes compared to traditional tube-fed shotguns, practical advantages in scenarios requiring sustained engagement.
As part of a layered defense strategy, the shotgun complements longer-range systems and electronic countermeasures, giving infantry units multiple options for defending against the evolving drone threat.
The British Army has been actively testing shotguns within its counter-UAS framework alongside other systems, recognizing that the modern battlefield requires varied kinetic solutions.
What’s your take on shotguns as part of a drone defense toolkit? Are they effective? Have you seen counter-UAS shotgun systems in action or worked with such platforms?
Photo credit: The Royal Anglian Regiment
