Beretta Defense Technologies, part of the Italian Beretta Group, is preparing to unveil a new automated weapon station at the Eurosatory defence exhibition in Paris this June. Named the Livet, the system mounts eight Benelli “Drone Guardian” shotguns in a remote-controlled turret that resembles a compact anti-aircraft platform.
According to the company, the Livet is equipped with target auto-tracking and remote engagement capabilities, offering rapid reaction times to protect strategic assets and critical infrastructure. The system fires tungsten cartridges and can be fitted with air burst rounds that detonate midair, causing fragmentation damage to smaller drones.
AI-Driven Targeting and Sensor Integration
The platform’s AI-integrated tracking system allows the Livet to identify and lock onto targets autonomously. It can also be integrated with external short-range radar sensors or radio-frequency scanners, receiving real-time coordinates to seek out threats. This modular design makes it adaptable to various defensive scenarios, from military bases to civilian sites like airports or power plants.
Drone warfare has fundamentally altered modern battlefields. Unmanned, often low-cost systems have played a major role in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East. First-person-view drones, which can be assembled for as little as $300, have proven particularly effective in Ukraine, enabling Kyiv to conduct precision strikes on Russian forces while reducing risks to its own soldiers. Their success has forced many European nations to accelerate development of counter-drone technologies, fueling a boom in defence startups across the continent.
The Livet’s debut comes amid heightened concerns over drone incursions near European borders. NATO has conducted drills near the Russian frontier, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has flagged the growing drone threat. Recent incidents, such as a Russian drone barrage hitting a Kharkiv residential area, underscore the urgency of effective countermeasures.
Eurosatory, scheduled from 15 to 19 June, brings together key defence industry players, senior state officials, and military leaders. This year’s event will feature talks from figures including General Pierre Schill, chief of staff of the French Army, and Catherine Vautrin, the French minister of the armed forces. The show provides a platform for companies like Beretta to showcase innovations that address the evolving threats faced by European militaries and civilian authorities.
While the Livet is designed primarily for military and critical infrastructure protection, its technology could eventually find applications in civilian security, such as safeguarding airports or public events. The system’s reliance on AI and sensor fusion reflects a broader trend in European defence: integrating advanced computing with traditional weaponry to counter asymmetric threats.
As drone technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, the race to develop effective countermeasures intensifies. Beretta’s Livet represents one of the more direct approaches—a shotgun turret that combines brute force with smart targeting. Whether it proves effective in real-world conditions remains to be seen, but its unveiling at Eurosatory signals that European defence firms are taking the drone threat seriously.
