SIG SAUER has introduced the XRAY9-CUAS optic, a new electro-optic built to help troops take on hostile drones. The New Hampshire company revealed the device at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) trade show and announced it from Newington on October 13, 2026. CUAS stands for counter unmanned aircraft systems, and the company describes the XRAY9-CUAS as an all-new optic that brings several technologies together to give users a fresh way to respond to drone attacks.
SIG SAUER builds firearms, but its work also covers electro-optics, ammunition, and what it calls advanced concepts. The new product draws on that wider range of expertise. According to the company, the optic takes advanced disturbed reticle technology that relies on its remote weapon station platform and applies it to an electro-optic that can be mounted on a weapon. In practical terms, SIG SAUER is taking targeting tools it already uses on a larger system and packing them into a compact sight.
How the XRAY9-CUAS Optic Builds a Drone Firing Solution
The XRAY9-CUAS optic is designed to be mounted to a counter-UAS weapon system. Once in place, it uses advanced electro-optical technologies to engage drones quickly. SIG SAUER says the approach is similar to the targeting system found in its remote-controlled weapon station, so operators get a related targeting method in a much smaller package. The company presents the optic as a tool that handles the difficult calculations so the shooter can focus on the threat in front of them.
At the core of the system is a proprietary SWIR laser rangefinder paired with onboard slew-rate sensors. Together, they instantly calculate a drone’s distance, speed, and vector. The optic then uses that data to create a custom disturbed reticle that provides dynamic targeting solutions for the shooter. SIG SAUER also notes that the XRAY9-CUAS can be integrated with CMOS and thermal sensors. With those additions, it can serve as a fire control system that works during the day, at night, and in a fused configuration.
“We fast-tracked the XRAY9-CUAS because the capability is needed for today’s battlefield. Our heritage began and continues in firearms. We’re also driving innovation in remote weapon stations and electro-optics because at our core our focus is to protect and support our men and women in uniform. With the XRAY9-CUAS, a soldier can point and shoot to combat drones with the new electro-optic compensating for a range of factors to eliminate the threat.” Andy York, President, SIG SAUER Electro-Optics
York’s comments make clear that the XRAY9-CUAS optic is meant to lighten the load on the person behind the weapon. Rather than leaving a soldier to account for every variable, the optic is designed to compensate for a range of factors so the user can simply point and shoot. That soldier-focused goal lines up with other recent Army efforts covered on this site, including a counter-drone demo that relied on equipment troops already carry. For SIG SAUER, the decision to fast-track the program reflects how urgently the company believes the capability is needed.
Size, Range, and Battery Life of the SIG SAUER Drone Optic
SIG SAUER says the XRAY9-CUAS can track and engage drones at distances of up to 300 yards. The company adds that exact capabilities will vary depending on the size of the drone being targeted, so the 300-yard figure is a ceiling rather than a fixed number for every situation. The optic itself is small and lightweight. It measures 5.25 inches long, 2.5 inches wide, and 3.3 inches high, and it weighs 24 ounces.
Battery life is another key specification. The XRAY9-CUAS optic runs for up to 50 hours with continuous use, according to the company. Its display has a 640×480 resolution, and the window offers a 48mm clear aperture. Those numbers sit alongside the laser rangefinder, the slew-rate sensors, and the optional CMOS and thermal integration, giving a full picture of what the compact unit brings to a counter-UAS weapon system.
SIG SAUER describes itself as a leading maker of premium firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, remote-controlled weapon stations, and drones. The company points to a 250-year track record and says it serves all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. It also reports a presence in more than 90 countries, where it acts as a preferred partner to top militaries, and it is certified as a Great Place to Work. The XRAY9-CUAS optic now adds a dedicated counter-drone sight to that defense lineup.
