Hi-tech Shield Against Drones: Beretta's Breakthrough is Called Livet

The historic arms company from Valtrompia responds to the challenge of modern conflicts by developing an automated weapon station managed by artificial intelligence, designed to neutralize hostile remote-controlled aircraft.

The leaders of Beretta Defense Technologies have chosen the prestigious Parisian setting of Eurosatory (scheduled from June 15 to 19, 2026) to showcase Livet to the world, a remotely piloted turret (Remote Controlled Weapon Station) designed to eliminate the dangers posed by drone incursions.

The New Warfare Paradigm: NATO's Push on C-UAS Systems

The most recent operational theaters, primarily the Ukrainian trench, have redefined the rules of military strategy: today, small unmanned flying platforms, cheap but lethal, are capable of striking not only the front lines but also sensitive targets in the rear.

To curb this phenomenon, NATO commands and Western chancelleries are reshaping their budgets, allocating massive funds for counter-micro-aircraft systems (technologies known as Counter-UAS). In this context, the industrial move of the Gardone Val Trompia group fits in. Leveraging the know-how acquired in the Benelli Armi plants with the Drone Guardian M4 project, Beretta positions itself at the forefront of the short-range air defense market.

Anatomy of the Livet System: The Italian Ballistic Response

The entire production chain of the platform claims a strong Italian DNA. The system's architecture is indeed based on a profound revision of the tactical smoothbore rifle (with barrels of 18.5 or 26 inches) signed by Benelli Armi.

Saturation Strategy and Smart Ammunition

Unlike traditional anti-aircraft systems, Livet does not seek impact with a single projectile but aims to saturate portions of the sky through targeted engineering solutions:

• Combined Firepower: The structure unifies eight Drone Guardian modules operating in sync. This redundancy not only ensures an impressive volume of fire but also protects the system from potential jams or failures of a single element.
• Smart Projectiles (Air Burst): In addition to high-penetration tungsten pellets, the turret can employ ammunition capable of fragmenting mid-air. The explosion occurs at a distance calculated to the millimeter to intercept the target.
• The Barrier Effect: Instantly generating a dense barrier of high-speed fragments, the weapon station can disable commercial drones and kamikaze (or loitering) munitions, whose sudden trajectory changes would deceive normal targeting systems.

Predictive Automation: Management Entrusted to A.I.

The true revolution that distances Livet from past systems lies in its digital brain. The turret uses a sophisticated electro-optical module governed by artificial intelligence algorithms.

Guaranteed Human Supervision: The algorithm autonomously scans the horizon, locks onto the threat, and tracks its movements. The operator inside the vehicle or command center only has the responsibility of giving the final go-ahead before opening fire.

The Livet's defensive network is expandable: the turret is designed to constantly communicate with external short-range radars or radio frequency detectors, instantly capturing enemy attack vectors. The flexibility of use envisioned by Beretta makes this shield perfect for securing strategic sites and national interest infrastructures, as well as being installed on the roof of moving armored vehicles, safeguarding them from threats raining down from above.