Remote controlled weapon station

A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), remotely operated weapon system (ROWS), or remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated light or medium-caliber weapon system, often equipped with a fire-control system, that can be installed on a ground combat vehicle or sea- and air-based combat platform.^[1]

A Kongsberg/Thales Protector M151 with an M2 heavy machine gun on a M1126 Stryker

The operator screen of a RWS installed on U.S. Army Stryker

A heavy FLW 200 made by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for the German Army

A light remote weapon system made by OTO Melara Iberica

A Sea Rogue fitted with a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on a Valour class frigate of the South African Navy

Such equipment is used on modern military vehicles, as it allows a gunner to remain in the relative protection of the vehicle. It may be retrofitted onto existing vehicles, for example, the CROWS system is being fitted to American Humvees.

Examples

•  Australia
  • Electro Optic Systems: Slinger
  • R400S [ja]
•  Belgium
  • FN Herstal: deFNder Family
•  Brazil
  • REMAX
•  Canada
  • Rheinmetall Canada: Fieldranger
•  China
  • UW4A^[2]
  • CS/LK4^[3][4]
  • H/PJ17^[5]
•  France
  • Hornet
  • Hornet Lite
  • Hornet S
•  Finland
  • Patria: PML 127 OWS
•  Georgia:
  • DRWS-1^[6]
  • DRWS-2^[7]
  • RWS-23
•  Germany:
  • FLW 100, FLW 200 and FLW 200+
•  India:
  • BEL RCWS^[8][9]
  • MDSL RWS^[10]
  • SHARANG RWS^[11]
•  Indonesia
  • RESPATI Mk. III
  • Pindad RCWS
•  Iran
  • ARIO-H762
  • Raad – 30mm remote control turret
•  Israel:
  • Typhoon Weapon System
  • Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station
  • Rafael Overhead Weapon Station
•  Italy:
  • Hitfist
  • Hitfist OWS
  • Hitrole
•  Japan:
  • Surface vessels weapon station (remote-controlled) [ja]
•  South Korea:
  • Hyundai Wia KR-6
•  Norway
  • Kongsberg Defence Systems: Protector (RWS)
•  Poland
  • ZSMU Kobuz
  • ZSSW-30
•  Republic of China
  • XTR-101/102 – 20mm remote control turret
•  Romania
  • Pro Optica Anubis^[12]
•  Russia
  • Bumerang-BM – 30mm remote control turret
  • AU-220M – 57mm remote control turret
  • Arbalet-DM [ru]
  • Сервал^[13]
•  South Africa
  • BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa: TRT-25 remote weapon station
  • Reutech Solutions: Rogue
•  Spain
  • EM&E: Guardian 2.0 (M2 Browning)
  • EM&E: Guardian 30 (Mk44 Bushmaster II)
  • EM&E: Guardian L-Hit (M230 chain gun)
  • EM&E: Aspis (M240 machine gun)
•  Sweden
  • Saab: Trackfire
•  Turkey
  • Aselsan SMASH: It is a stabilized weapon station manufactured by Aselsan and fitted with 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II autocanon.^[14]
  • Aselsan STOP : It is fitted with either a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA or a M242 Bushmaster autocanon.^[15]
  • Aselsan STAMP, Aselsan STAMP-2: These can be fitted with either a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm grenade launcher.^[16][17]
  • Aselsan STAMP-G: It can be fitted with either a 12.7 mm GAU-19 gatling gun or a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher.^[18]
  • Aselsan SARP: It can be fitted with either a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun.
•  Ukraine
  • SPYS-SYNTEZ,^[19] NATO nomenclature code: 2510-61-015-0429
  • Parus
  • Doublet
  • Taipan^[20]
  • Shturm-M^[21]
  • Kastet
•  United Kingdom
  • MSI-Defence Systems: Seahawk DS Remote
  • Thales: SWARM
•  United States
  • CROWS
  • Typhoon Weapon Station: Typhoon models designated MK38 MOD 2^[22] and later MK 38 MOD 3,^[23] and the Mini-Typhoon models designated MK49 MOD 0 ROSAM (Remote Operated Small Arms Mount)^[24] and later MK49 MOD 1.^[25]

See also

• Gun turret
• Sentry gun
• Close-in weapon system

References

1. DOLASIŃSKI, Jan F. (2020-09-30). "Remote Controlled Weapon Stations – Development of Thought and Technology". Problems of Mechatronics. Armament, Aviation, Safety Engineering. 11 (3): 87–100. doi:10.5604/01.3001.0014.3710. ISSN 2081-5891.
2. "Janes | Latest defence and security news". www.janes.com.
3. "多种武器出炉 中国不再怕越南蛙人-中国军事-中国嘹望-万维新闻". m.creaders.net. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
4. "海军近区防御新系统卫岛礁 军力博弈或成未来主线_大公资讯_大公网". news.takungpao.com. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
5. "Naval Weapons--北方工业". www.norinco.com. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
6. "Remote controlled weapon station DRWS 1" (PDF). STC Delta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
7. "Remote controlled weapon station DRWS 2" (PDF). STC Delta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
8. "BHEL launches remote-controlled weapons station for military tanks". Hindustan Times. February 15, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
9. "Army to deploy remote-controlled guns at LoC to take on infiltrators". Hindustan Times. October 5, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
10. "Mahindra Defence Systems' remote weapon station demonstrated". Army Recognition. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
11. "L&T Displays New SHARANG RWS". Asia Trade. June 30, 2019. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
12. "ANUBIS Remotely Controlled Weapon Station". prooptica.ro.
13. "ЦАМТО / Новости / В России создали систему управления стрелковым оружием "Сервал"". armstrade.org.
14. "Aselsan SMASH". www.aselsan.com.tr.
15. "Aselsan STOP".
16. "Aselsan STAMP" (PDF).
17. "Aselsan STAMP-2" (PDF).
18. "Aselsan STAMP-G" (PDF). www.aselsan.com.tr.
19. "Combat module SPYS-SYNTEZ". www.tie.in.ua.
20. "Бойовий модуль "Тайпан" від ДК "Укроборонпром"". ukroboronprom.com.ua. 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
21. admin (2018-06-30). "BTR-3DA with Shturm-M weapon system". militaryleak.com. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
22. "Typhoon" (PDF). Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-12-02. Retrieved 2012-09-18.
23. "MK 38 – 25 mm Machine Gun System". United States Navy Fact File. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
24. "U.S. Navy Type Classifies MK49 MOD0 Gun Weapon System". General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products. 19 December 2005. Archived from the original on 20 July 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
25. "Mini-Typhoon Naval Stabilized & Remotely Operated Machine Gun System" (PDF). Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2022.

External links

Media related to Remote weapon systems at Wikimedia Commons