A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), remotely operated weapon system (ROWS), or remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated light or medium-
caliber
In guns, particularly firearms, but not #As a measurement of length, artillery, where a different definition may apply, caliber (or calibre; sometimes abbreviated as "cal") is the specified nominal internal diameter of the gun barrel Gauge ( ...
weapon system, often equipped with a
fire-control system
A fire-control system (FCS) is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director and radar, which is designed to assist a ranged weapon system to target, track, and hit a target. It performs the same task as a hum ...
, that can be installed on
a ground combat vehicle or sea- and air-based combat platform.
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
The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is a series of remote weapon stations used by the US military on its armored vehicles and ships. It allows weapon operators to engage targets without leaving the protection of their vehicle. ...
system is being fitted to American
Humvee
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of Military light utility vehicle, light, four-wheel drive Military vehicle#Military trucks, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It ...
s.
Examples
*
** Electro Optic Systems:
Slinger
**
*
**
FN Herstal
, trading as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale, or simply FN, is a leading firearms manufacturer based in Herstal, Belgium, and former vehicle manufacturer. It was the largest exporter of military small arms in Europe .
FN ...
: deFNder Family
*
**
REMAX
*
**
Rheinmetall Canada:
Fieldranger
*
** UW4A
** CS/LK4
** H/PJ17
*
**X-29
**Eagle 1
[
** Eagle 2][
*
**Hornet
**Hornet Lite
**Hornet S
*
** Patria: PML 127 OWS
* :
** DRWS-1
** DRWS-2
** RWS-23
* :
** FLW 100, FLW 200 and FLW 200+
* :
** BEL RCWS
** MDSL RWS
** SHARANG RWS
*
** RESPATI Mk. III
** Pindad RCWS
*
** ARIO-H762
** Raad – 30mm remote control turret
* :
** Typhoon Weapon System
**]Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station
The Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS), also known as Katlanit (קטלנית in Hebrew language, Hebrew: "lethal") is a remote weapon system (RWS) that enables a variety of devices to be operated automatically or by remote control, ...
**Rafael Overhead Weapon Station
The Rafael Overhead Weapon Station is a remote weapon station developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces. It has been superseded by the Rafael Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). However, ...
* :
** Hitfist
Oto Melara Hitfist is a two-man turret for armored vehicles developed by the Italian Oto Melara company.
The turrets are designed to mount a 25mm Oerlikon KBA or 30/40mm ATK Mk44 Bushmaster II autocannon. The main armament may mount a co-axia ...
**Hitfist OWS
Hitfist OWS is a remotely operated turret, for armored vehicles, developed by the Italian Oto Melara and derived from Hitfist.
The turrets are designed to mount a main armament of an autocannon of 25 or 30 mm caliber. The main armament may m ...
** Hitrole
The Hitrole is a remote weapons station manufactured by Italian arms company Oto Melara (merged into Leonardo S.p.A., previously Finmeccanica since 2016).
The "role" portion of the name is short for "''R''emotely ''O''perated, ''L''ight '' ...
* :
**
* :
** Hyundai Wia KR-6
*
** Kongsberg Defence Systems
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) is one of three business units of Kongsberg Gruppen (KONGSBERG) of Norway and a supplier of defence and space related systems and products, mainly anti-ship missiles, military communications, and command and ...
: Protector (RWS)
The Protector RWS is a remotely controlled weapons station (RWS) that can be mounted to vehicles and stationary platforms. It has been in full scale production since December 2001. It is manufactured by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway.
...
*
** ZSMU Kobuz
** ZSSW-30
The ZSSW-30 (Polish language, Polish: Zdalnie Sterowany System Wieżowy 30 mm - 30mm Remote Control Turret System) is a Polish Remote controlled weapon station, remotely controlled turret designed by Huta Stalowa Wola and WB Group, WB Electronics ...
*
**XTR-101/102
XTR-101 and XTR-102 are a pair of automatic close-defense 20mm remote weapon systems produced by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology of Taiwan. The XTR-101 features a single T-75 cannon while the XTR-102 features two of t ...
– 20mm remote control turret
** NCSIST 2.75in rockets remote weapon station
*
** Pro Optica Anubis
*
** Bumerang-BM – 30mm remote control turret
** AU-220M – 57mm remote control turret
**
** Serval
*
** BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa: TRT-25 remote weapon station
** Reutech Solutions: Rogue
*
** EM&E: Guardian 2.0 (M2 Browning
The M2 machine gun or Browning .50-caliber machine gun (informally, "Ma Deuce") is a heavy machine gun that was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning. While similar to Browning's M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered ...
)
** EM&E: Guardian 30 (Mk44 Bushmaster II
The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increas ...
)
** EM&E: Guardian L-Hit ( M230 chain gun)
** EM&E: Aspis (M240 machine gun
The M240 machine gun, officially the Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240, is the U.S. military designation for the FN MAG, a family of Belt (firearms), belt-fed, gas-operated reloading, gas-operated medium machine guns that chamber the 7.62×51mm NA ...
)
*
** Saab: Trackfire
*
** Aselsan SMASH: It is a stabilized weapon station manufactured by Aselsan and fitted with 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II
The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Northrop Grumman. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increas ...
autocanon.
** Aselsan STOP : It is fitted with either a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA
The Oerlikon KBA is a 25 mm caliber, 25 mm (25×137mm) autocannon which was developed as a close range multipurpose weapon for the mechanised battlefield. It was originally made by Oerlikon (now Rheinmetall Air Defence, Rheinmetall AG), and is cur ...
or a M242 Bushmaster
The M242 Bushmaster chain gun is a 25 mm caliber, 25 mm (25×137mm) single-barrel chain-driven autocannon. It is used extensively by the United States Armed Forces, U.S. military, such as in the Bradley fighting vehicle, as well as by other NAT ...
autocanon.
** 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.
**Aselsan STAMP-G
The STAMP is a lightweight remote controlled weapon station manufactured by Aselsan of Turkey. It can be fitted with either a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
Overview
The system stabilizer all ...
: It can be fitted with either a 12.7 mm GAU-19
The GAU-19/A (GECAL 50) is an electrically driven, three-barrel rotary heavy machine gun that fires the .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge.
Technical specifications
The GAU-19/A is designed to accept standard NATO .50 caliber M9-linked ammuni ...
gatling gun or a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher.
**Aselsan SARP: It can be fitted with either a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun.
*
** SPYS-SYNTEZ, NATO nomenclature code: 2510-61-015-0429
** Parus
** Doublet
** Taipan
** Shturm-MThales
Thales of Miletus ( ; ; ) was an Ancient Greek philosophy, Ancient Greek Pre-Socratic philosophy, pre-Socratic Philosophy, philosopher from Miletus in Ionia, Asia Minor. Thales was one of the Seven Sages of Greece, Seven Sages, founding figure ...
: SWARM
*
** CROWS
The Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) is a series of remote weapon stations used by the US military on its armored vehicles and ships. It allows weapon operators to engage targets without leaving the protection of their vehicle. ...
** Typhoon Weapon Station: Typhoon models designated MK38 MOD 2
See also
* Gun turret
A gun turret (or simply turret) is a mounting platform from which weapons can be fired that affords protection, visibility and ability to turn and aim. A modern gun turret is generally a rotatable weapon mount that houses the crew or mechanis ...
* Sentry gun
A sentry gun is a weapon that automatically aims and fires at targets that are detected by sensors. The earliest functioning military sentry guns were the close-in weapon systems point-defense weapons, such as the Phalanx CIWS, used for detect ...
* Close-in weapon system
A close-in weapon system (CIWS ) is a point-defense weapon system for detecting and destroying short-range incoming missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses, typically mounted on a naval ship. Nearly all classes of l ...
References
External links
{{Commons category-inline
*
*RWS