French Army Transforms WW2 Cannon Into ‘Drone-Hunting’ Platform
The French Army’s PROTEUS Standard 1 upgrades the AA53 cannon with infrared optics, digital targeting, and 20mm firepower for cost-effective drone defense.
The French Army has unveiled the PROTEUS Standard 1, a 20mm automatic gun mount positioned as a modernized response to drones and remotely guided munitions.
It is an overhaul of the AA53 cannon, a World War 2-era weapon designed to take down light vehicles while providing short-range air defense.
The cannon fires 20×139 caliber ammunition at a rate of 720 rounds per minute and has continued to see widespread use on the battlefield, even as newer weapons have been developed.
Under the PROTEUS project, the AA53 has been upgraded with an infrared camera, stabilized display, digital ballistic calculator, and inertial navigation system.
The upgrades aim to enable troops to track and engage aerial threats more efficiently while reducing operational costs.
The weapon’s 20mm rounds also provide a reusable, close-range solution against drones, disrupting swarms that can overwhelm modern missile defenses.
Adapting to Threats
The PROTEUS platform positions France among a select group of nations fielding standardized anti-drone weaponry.
Ukraine has repurposed twin Soviet-era cannons as a mobile drone defense system, while Israel revived its M61 Vulcan cannons to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles after two decades of inactivity.
Developed in just four months, the PROTEUS demonstrates France’s streamlined approach to addressing drone threats on the battlefield.
The first PROTEUS Standard 1 units are being delivered to the army’s 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment. Operational feedback is expected to shape future deployments across other services.
