Valhalla Turrets Completes Trials of ASGARD Counter-Drone Turret Equipped with M134D 7.62 mm Gatling Gun.

Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets has completed live-fire trials of its ASGARD counter-drone air defense system armed with the American-made Dillon Aero M134D 7.62 mm Gatling gun, according to a company announcement published in early November 2026. Supported by the Slovenian Armed Forces, the tests involved firing thousands of rounds to assess a mobile weapon system designed to protect military convoys and critical infrastructure against low-flying drones. The remotely operated turret combines 360-degree coverage with a six-barrel Gatling gun capable of firing 3,000 rounds per minute, delivering concentrated fire against fast-moving aerial threats. The development highlights growing European efforts to deploy mobile, gun-based defenses against drones without relying exclusively on costly surface-to-air missiles.

Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets has completed live-fire trials of its ASGARD counter-drone air defense turret armed with a U.S.-made Dillon Aero M134D six-barrel Gatling gun, demonstrating its high-volume firing capability during tests supported by the Slovenian Armed Forces (Picture Source: Valhalla Turrets)

Slovenian defence manufacturer Valhalla Turrets has completed several days of intensive live-fire testing of its ASGARD counter-drone turret, equipped with the American-made Dillon Aero M134D 7.62 mm Gatling gun. In an announcement published in early November 2026, the company reported that thousands of rounds had been fired during the trials, conducted with the support of the Slovenian Armed Forces as part of a Ministry of Defence-funded development programme aimed at strengthening protection against unmanned aerial threats.

ASGARD Modular Turret Designed for Mobile Counter-Drone Defence

Developed by Slovenia-based Valhalla Turrets, ASGARD is a medium-weight, remotely controlled air-defence turret designed to protect military convoys and critical infrastructure against aerial threats, particularly unmanned aircraft operating at low altitude. Its modular architecture allows different weapons to be integrated according to operational requirements, with three configurations offered by the manufacturer: ASGARD 134, armed with a 7.62×51 mm Gatling gun; ASGARD 230, equipped with a 30×113 mm automatic cannon; and ASGARD 503, incorporating a 12.7×99 mm weapon. The turret has a stated combat weight ranging from 840 to 950 kg, with a 360-degree traverse capability, an elevation range extending from −10 to +80 degrees, and a maximum angular movement speed of 120 degrees per second.

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These characteristics are particularly relevant to counter-drone operations, where weapons must respond quickly to small aerial targets approaching from different directions and at varying altitudes. The ASGARD 134 configuration also features a stated ammunition capacity of 5,000 rounds, providing a substantial onboard supply for its high-rate-of-fire weapon. However, the precise targeting and fire-control equipment fitted to the system during the recent trials has not been publicly specified.

Dillon Aero M134D Firepower and Slovenian Military Testing

At the centre of the tested configuration is the Dillon Aero M134D Minigun, a six-barrel, electrically driven Gatling weapon chambered for 7.62×51 mm NATO ammunition. Unlike conventional single-barrel machine guns, the M134D distributes its firing cycle across six rotating barrels, allowing it to maintain a fixed firing rate of 3,000 rounds per minute, equivalent to approximately 50 rounds per second. This arrangement helps distribute heat and mechanical stress while allowing repeated short bursts of concentrated fire. Dillon Aero specifies an effective weapon range of up to 1,200 metres, although this figure should not be interpreted as a confirmed drone-interception range for ASGARD.

Against small unmanned aircraft, the ability to deliver a high volume of fire within a limited engagement window could offer an advantage, particularly when targets are moving rapidly or present a small physical profile. However, the effectiveness of such a weapon depends heavily on accurate target detection, tracking and fire-control performance. The high rate of fire also creates significant ammunition demands, making burst management and engagement efficiency important considerations for sustained counter-drone operations.

The latest trials form part of Valhalla Turrets' research and development activities funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Defence. In an official announcement issued on October 27, 2026, the Slovenian Armed Forces confirmed their support for live-fire testing involving ASGARD and other domestically developed weapon systems at the Postojna military training area between October 26 and 30. Valhalla subsequently reported the successful completion of its multi-day testing programme, during which thousands of 7.62 mm rounds were fired.

According to the company, the trials demonstrated ASGARD's capabilities against different types of drones at short and medium ranges, although specific results concerning target interceptions, engagement distances and the types of drones involved have not been released. Images associated with the trials also appear to show the turret installed on a protected 4×4 military vehicle resembling an Oshkosh Defense Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). However, the exact vehicle model and configuration have not been officially confirmed. Such an installation would be consistent with ASGARD's intended role as a mobile air-defence system capable of accompanying military formations and providing an additional layer of protection against low-altitude aerial threats.

The completion of these live-fire trials represents another step in Slovenia's efforts to develop domestically supported counter-drone capabilities as armed forces increasingly seek alternatives to expensive missile-based interceptors for engaging smaller unmanned aircraft. ASGARD combines a modular turret architecture with the high rate of fire of the M134D, offering a potentially useful approach to short-range protection of military vehicles, convoys and fixed installations.

Its operational value will ultimately depend on how effectively the complete system can detect, track and engage aerial targets under realistic conditions, particularly when facing multiple drones or rapidly changing threats. Although further publicly available test results would be needed to establish its effectiveness against specific UAV categories, the programme highlights continued cooperation between Slovenia's defence industry, the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces in developing and evaluating new air-defence capabilities.

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Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.