Israel Aerospace Industries and SIG SAUER test armed FIRE STORM 250 drone

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and U.S.-based SIG SAUER have successfully completed live-fire testing of the FIRE STORM 250, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system. The demonstration, conducted in Israel, showcased the drone’s ability to combine intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance with direct kinetic effects.

Equipped with a SIG SAUER MICROLIGHT remote controlled weapon station and an M250 machine gun, the drone utilized onboard electro-optical sensors to detect and track targets in a simulated battlefield. The tests confirmed the system's capability to engage targets in both single-shot and semi-automatic modes from varying altitudes and ranges.

Based on IAI’s Apus 60 VTOL platform, the FIRE STORM 250 features a multi-fuel internal-combustion engine that allows for up to three hours of flight endurance. The system is designed for field refueling and can be launched or recovered from forward positions without the need for runways or specialized aviation infrastructure.