Net gun
Non-lethal weapon firing nets to entangle targets.
A net gun is a non-lethal device that shoots a net to trap a target. It has been used for a long time to catch wildlife, and more recently, since the early 2020s, net guns have become a non-explosive way to take down drones, used by military and security forces.
The net gun was not invented in 1969 by a single person; similar devices existed earlier. It became popular in the 1970s for capturing wildlife, but reliable records do not show it being used for stray dogs or robbers.
In the early 2020s, net guns gained new attention as a way to capture hostile drones without destroying them, by tangling their rotors. Models like those from various manufacturers have been tested and ordered by military and security forces, including for stopping fast FPV drones. Some variants are designed to be mounted on drones for airborne interception.
- inventor
- Unknown (earlier devices existed before 1969)
- nationality
- Various
- year_invented
- Before 1969
- field
- Non-lethal weaponry
- known_for
- Net gun for capturing wildlife and later counter-drone applications
Lore & Background
The net gun was not invented by New Zealander Colin Brown in 1969; net-launching devices existed earlier. His attempt to sell a net gun to police for capturing robbers is not supported by reliable records. The device gained popularity in the 1970s for wildlife capture but was not used for stray dogs or robbers. Since the early 2020s, net guns have attracted renewed interest as a non-explosive counter-drone measure, capturing hostile unmanned aerial vehicles by entangling their rotors rather than destroying them.
Reader's Guide
Net guns have evolved from a niche tool for wildlife and animal control into a significant non-lethal counter-drone technology. Their significance lies in providing a non-explosive method to disable hostile drones, including fast-moving FPV drones, by entangling rotors rather than destroying them. This approach reduces collateral damage and allows for capture and analysis of the drone. Models such as ParaZero's DefendAir and the UltraNet developed by the American firm Netgun have been demonstrated in field trials and ordered by military and security forces. Handheld variants are supplied to US military units and law enforcement agencies, with some adapted for drone-mounted launch systems for airborne interception. The net gun's legacy is its transition from a failed police tool to a modern counter-UAS asset.
Did You Know?
- Net guns existed before 1969 and were not invented by a single New Zealander.
- Net guns have a long history of being used to capture wildlife, but not aircraft, stray dogs, or robbers according to reliable records.
- Since the early 2020s, net guns have been adopted as a non-explosive counter-drone measure by military and security forces.
- ParaZero's DefendAir is a parachute recovery system, not a net gun model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the net gun?
No single person can be credited, since similar net-firing devices were already in use well before 1969. The development is attributed to various contributors across different countries rather than to one named inventor.
What exactly does a net gun do?
It is a non-lethal device that propels a net toward a target to entangle and immobilize it. It has served both as a wildlife-capture tool and, more recently, as a counter-drone weapon for security and military use.
When did the net gun first appear?
Reliable records place its origins before 1969, though it gained wider popularity in the 1970s for trapping animals. Its role in security and military contexts expanded notably in the early 2020s.
How is a net gun used against drones?
Since the early 2020s, military and security forces have employed net guns as a non-explosive method to bring down hostile drones while keeping the aircraft intact for inspection. This makes it a preferred option over kinetic or electromagnetic alternatives.
Why is the net gun considered significant in non-lethal weaponry?
It offers a versatile, low-collateral-damage option that works across very different scenarios, from capturing wildlife to neutralizing aerial threats. Its dual-purpose design has kept it relevant for decades.
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