France has unveiled the PROTEUS Standard 1, a reconfigured 20mm gun mount developed to combat drones and guided munitions. The system represents an upgrade of an older platform to meet modern battlefield requirements.
At its core, the new system revives the AA53 cannon, a weapon dating back to World War II, once used for destroying light armored targets and offering close-range air defense. The modernization effort brings the weapon into the era of drone warfare.
The PROTEUS Standard 1 fires 20×139 caliber ammunition with an impressive rate of 720 rounds per minute, giving it the ability to saturate airspace with defensive fire. The cannon has a long history of battlefield use, even as advanced weapon systems entered service.
With this adaptation, the French Army demonstrates how proven legacy weapons can be upgraded into effective tools for contemporary threats, ensuring cost-effective and reliable defense solutions.
