Army taps Kongsberg to build remote-control weapons stations for combat vehicles in $499.2 million deal
NEWARK, N.J. – Weapons automation experts at Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS in Kongsberg, Norway, will build remote-control weapons stations for U.S. Army armored combat vehicles under terms of a $499.2 million order announced Monday.
Officials of the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Newark, N.J., are asking Kongsberg to build the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) system, which company experts refer to as the Protector family of remote weapon systems.
The Kongsberg Protector system is suitable for many kinds of military missions, whether on land or at sea. Integrated as mobile or static versions, CROWS enables warfighters to operate several kinds of weapons remotely from safely inside the vehicles.
The Protector family includes the RS2, RS4, and RS6 remote weapon stations, which accommodate weapons that range from 5.56-millimeter light machine guns to 30-millimeter light cannons. The system also includes the remote turrets.
Among the Protector family is the U.S. military CROWS system of remote weapon stations for U.S. Army vehicle programs. CROWS is a stabilized weapons mount that contains a sensor suite and fire-control software to enable on-the-move target acquisition and first-burst target engagement.
The CROWS system for armored combat vehicles also features programmable target reference points for several locations, programmable sector surveillance scanning, automatic target ballistic lead, automatic target tracking, and programmable no-fire zones.
Future enhancements will include integration of other weapons, escalation-of-force systems, sniper detection, integrated 360-degree situational awareness, increased weapon elevation and commander’s display.
CROWS enables the warfighter to engage targets remotely from safely inside their vehicles with precision fire while on the move or stationary to the maximum effective range of the weapon.
Able to attack targets day or night, the CROWS sensor suite includes a daytime video camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder. CROWS is designed to mount on any Army tactical vehicle and supports the MK19 grenade machine gun, M2 .50 caliber machine gun, M240B machine gun, and M249 squad automatic weapon.
On this order Kongsberg will do the work at locations to be determined with each order, and should be finished by September 2023. For more information contact Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace online at www.kongsberg.com/kda.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
