Amid calls from some UK politicians to ban arms sales to Israel, an Israeli-manufactured weapon has been ordered by the British army.
The British armed forces have procured new Israeli Smart Shooter rifle add-ons which are said to improve precision on the battlefield. The contract is worth under £4.6 million and the weapons will be in use by the end of 2024.
The 500 Smash counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) from Israeli company, Smart Shooter, can be integrated into assault rifles and reportedly help soldiers hit their target with greater precision.
The procurement was reported by defence and security publication, Janes, at the Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) Expo hosted by the British Army at Baker Barracks.
The C-UAS ordered by the British Army will enter service with 16 Air Assault Brigade.
The system is designed to ensure that each round hits its target by providing a standard rifle with precision algorithms.
According to the Israeli weapons manufacturer, the system “provides kinetic protection against evolving C-UAS threats to dismounted forces by featuring built-in targeting algorithms that can acquire, track and hit small drones.”
The system is said to reduce the chance of misfire as it "only releases the trigger of the weapon it is mounted on if an optimum shot is possible,” according to Janes.
The technology reportedly helps soldiers hit their target with more precision (Photo: Smart Shooter)[Missing Credit]
Smash enables the targeting and destruction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones at a range of 250 metres in day mode and 100 metres in night mode, according to Smart Shooter.
Wing Commander Mark Bowden, Programmes Directorate, Counter-UAS SO1, said: “We are very pleased to announce the arrival of the first dismounted C-sUAS equipment into the core equipment programme.
“SMASH is a proven capability already in service with our allies and partners.
“As we have seen in Ukraine and other operational areas the UAS threat is growing significantly.
“SMASH offers significant enhancement to the close combat operator across all three Services, delivering a tactical edge to the dismounted soldier in the C-sUAS battle.”
Retired British Army officer Colonel Richard Kemp celebrated the procurement, writing on X: “I have fired with this sight in Israel and it is an outstanding system which will give our troops an edge including against attack drones.”
Kemp explained how the system operated: “The shooter picks the target, the sight tells him when to fire to maximise chances of hitting. Makes shooting a terrorist in close proximity to civilians safer, ie far less likely to accidentally hit civilians. Also helps prevent blue on blue.”
Kemp added: “Meanwhile some Labour MPs are calling on the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel. The UK does not supply weapons to Israel, only technical components and UK security is the net beneficiary of this trade as well as our close intelligence relationship.”
On Wednesday, Labour MP for Coventry South, Zarah Sultana, called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer “to suspend arms sales to Israel and end Britain’s complicity in the killing.” She tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech to include an embargo on arms sales to Israel.
