China's rifle-wielding drone achieves flawless results in tests

Chinese researchers have developed a special-operations drone capable of firing a standard infantry assault rifle with exceptional precision, achieving a 100% hit rate in controlled live-fire tests. The drone hovered about 33 feet above ground and successfully engaged a human-sized target 328 feet away, hitting the vital area every time across 20 single shots. At a closer range of 164 feet, it scored 19 out of 20 hits, with the single miss attributed to defective ammunition rather than system error. This marks a significant advancement in drone weaponization, as the system uses a conventional infantry rifle rather than custom or heavily modified firearms, indicating a move toward practical, battlefield-ready technology. Key technical improvements include a redesigned rigid mounting system that fixes the rifle to the drone’s optical sensor, minimizing mechanical misalignment during flight, and advanced software that dynamically adjusts firing angles based on distance, wind, and drone orientation. Extensive computer simulations prior to live testing enhanced the system’s accuracy, boosting the theoretical hit rate from about