Dumb question: Why are 12ga shotguns, possibly on small auto-targeting platforms, not a thing yet? Like a CWIS/CRAM but tiny and for close-in engagements?
shotgun slugs aren't usable in any serious, consistent way outside of maybe 20 meters (~60 ft). nasty stuff if you're in range, through.
Shotgun slugs can be useful well beyond 20 meters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun_slug#:~:text=A%20slug%....
As a Canadian, I am normally not the one correcting others on the basics of firearms.
But I think an open question is if it could be made portable enough to tote around on the battlefield.
If attack drones can move like racing drones, that’s going to be a hard shot to pull off though
The loitering "drop grenades on cars" kind are probably much easier to knock down.
There are issues though. Skeet guns are 28-34" barrels which is super-long. These guns are also heavy. Once you have ammo loaded up, you're talking 11+ pounds. These guns size and weight make them almost unusable for anything outside of drones. Carrying around an extra gun and heavy ammo is a big commitment both physically and logistically.
9mm rounds go 1500 ft per second, so probably within 300 meters a drone wouldn't have the reaction time to dodge a bullet with precise aim.
It could also be mounted on a dog, real or robotic.
Actually building this thing though might be a science fiction dream.
About a decade ago, DARPA developed a .50 caliber gun round that has onboard guidance.[1] They were thinking snipers, not anti-drone, but maybe the concept can be adapted.