Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and SIG SAUER have successfully completed a live-fire test of the FIRE STORM 250, a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with SIG SAUER’s MICROLIGHT Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) and the new M250 machine gun. The demonstration took place in Israel ahead of the AUSA 2026 defense convention in Washington and showcased the platform’s capability to detect, identify, and engage targets while hovering over a simulated battlefield.
During the trial, the vertically launched FIRE STORM 250 loitered above the test area, using its onboard camera system to identify targets. The UAV engaged targets in both single-shot and semi-automatic firing modes at varying altitudes and ranges to assess accuracy, stability, and operational safety. Although still a prototype, the companies said the live-fire exercise validated the concept of combining airborne surveillance with remote-stabilized firepower, providing small military units with organic close-support capabilities.
Powered by a multi-fuel internal combustion engine, the FIRE STORM 250 can remain airborne for up to three hours and be refueled in the field without specialized equipment, avoiding battery-related limitations common to electric drones. Its vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) design allows deployment from forward operating positions without the need for runways or extensive aviation support.
The M250 machine gun carried by the UAV is configurable to use either 7.62x51 mm or 6.8x51 mm ammunition, carrying up to 200 rounds with an effective targeting range of 400 to 600 meters from an altitude of 200 meters. The MICROLIGHT RCWS weighs approximately 53 pounds including ammunition. Sensor feeds and fire-control data are integrated into a unified targeting system, providing operators with real-time imagery, tracking information, and firing controls. Advanced control algorithms are designed to maintain shooting accuracy even while the platform is in motion or hovering.
Mike Joslin, SIG SAUER’s defense product manager, highlighted the system’s ability to enhance soldier safety by allowing operators to control the weapon remotely rather than being exposed in direct-fire positions. Despite automation, human operators remain integral to the system, authorizing each engagement based on live sensor data.
Sali Okanin, SIG SAUER’s Israel general manager, emphasized that the integration of lightweight weapons with small UAV platforms like the FIRE STORM 250 expands operational flexibility, enabling persistent overwatch and armed reconnaissance missions. The platform is intended to support small tactical units in tasks such as intelligence gathering, border defense, force protection, and special operations surveillance.
According to Joslin, multiple FIRE STORM 250 units can work in coordination to provide continuous day-and-night battlefield coverage and enhance situational awareness during operations, including advance scouting and extraction support.
Moshe Levy, executive vice president and head of IAI’s Military Aircraft Group, described the test as indicative of the next generation of tactical unmanned systems, where autonomous sensing, decision-making, and action are integrated within the operational environment while maintaining human control over weapon deployments. He noted that the firing demonstration proved the concept’s viability in realistic combat scenarios.
The partnership between IAI and SIG SAUER, one of the world’s leading weapons manufacturers, reflects a broader trend toward expanding unmanned aerial platforms. Ryan Scott, SIG SAUER’s director of Advanced Concepts and a veteran of the U.S. Army, pointed to the company’s growing investment in drone technology aimed at enhancing troop support capabilities. Alongside the FIRE STORM 250, SIG SAUER also displayed other systems including the fixed-wing SCYTHE, the SABER quadcopter with an M-HORNET 22 LR attachment, and a prototype counter-UAS platform called XRAY-9. Both Scott and Joslin expressed strong ties to Israel’s defense technology sector, citing shared commitment and passion for advancing military innovations.