A two -gun shotgun where only one points to the enemy

Shortly before the World War Ithe name of the commander Cleland Davis, of the United States Navy, began to appear in military circles. The reason: the skill with which he had developed a weapon that would end Keeping your name. That design connected two cannons one after another, with the first targeting loaded with lead and fat bullets of the same weight as the projectile of the other cannon, acting as counterattack.

In Ukraine they have remembered their figure.

Drones with Davis cannons. In the vicinity of Bajmut, the 2nd Motorized Battalion of the 30.ª Mechanized Brigade of Ukraine has deployed a “novel” Air Defense System: Drones armed with double cannon shotguns able to reduce other enemy drones in full flight.

Yes, the design is based on that of Davis, and of this they attest to a videos series disseminated by the unit, where it is observed how these platforms intercept and demolish Russian drones, mainly DJI Maviccommonly used for recognition or bombing missions. These actions are part of one of the greater collections Documented air duels between drones, reflecting the rapid evolution of technological war in the Ukrainian conflict, in this case with a lap to the past.

The Davis cannon

IGM technology. As we said, the design of these weapons, based on the principle of cannons without setback designed by Cleland Davis in 1910, allows drones to shoot from one end while a second opposite cannon It generates a counterweight that stabilizes the platform by avoiding recoil.

Effectiveness lies in the dispersion of pellets More than precision, becoming an ideal solution to tear off commercial drones such as the Mavic and then get them. Apparently, although they lack automatic recharge mechanisms, these units are demonstrating to be a most valuable resource in the air wear war that is fought at low height over Donbás.

Improvisation and decentralization. It We have counted in other occasions. The war in Ukraine has led to the greatest advances to date in the Drones development fighting. In the case at hand, innovation is not exclusive to the 2nd Battalion. Other units, such as Ukraine Presidential Brigade and civil organizations such as Lesiaua, have developed similar prototypes since the late 2024.

Similarly, Russian manufacturers had already experienced armed drones with cannons, although always simple double direction versions. This dynamic of adaptation and counter-adapt has generated a true improvised arms racefed by Decentralization and flexibility of the Ukrainian drone industrywhere soldiers, volunteers and small businesses design, try and perfect models constantly.

Strategies and a question. The use of these platforms not only shows the Ukrainian capacity to develop effective solutions with accessible technology, but also highlights a weakness of the great powers, especially from NATO.

While the West has focused its efforts on the development of sophisticated and expensive weapons, Ukraine demonstrates once again than systems relatively simple and low costlike drone mounted shotguns, They can be decisive in asymmetric combat scenarios. A lesson that has generated concern between analysts that warn that technological superiority It does not always guarantee Efficacy against adaptive tactics and ingenious solutions arising directly from the battlefield.

Even from World War I.

Image | Sandia LabsMotorized Battalion of Ukraine, US National Archives and Records Administration

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