Remote controlled weapon station

Not to be confused with Close-in weapon system.

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]
•  Egypt
  • X-29^[6]
  • Eagle 1^[6]
  • Eagle 2^[6]
•  France
  • Hornet
  • Hornet Lite
  • Hornet S
•  Finland
  • Patria: PML 127 OWS
•  Georgia:
  • DRWS-1^[7]
  • DRWS-2^[8]
  • RWS-23
•  Germany:
  • FLW 100, FLW 200 and FLW 200+
  • Rheinmetall MSSA^[9]
•  India:
  • BEL RCWS^[10][11]
  • MDSL RWS^[12]
  • SHARANG RWS^[13]
•  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
•  Taiwan
  • XTR-101/102 – 20mm remote control turret
  • NCSIST 2.75in rockets remote weapon station
•  Romania
  • Pro Optica Anubis^[14]
•  Russia
  • Bumerang-BM – 30mm remote control turret
  • AU-220M – 57mm remote control turret
  • Arbalet-DM [ru]
  • Serval^[15]
•  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.^[16]
  • Aselsan STOP : It is fitted with either a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA or a M242 Bushmaster autocanon.^[17]
  • 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.^[18][19]
  • 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.^[20]
  • Aselsan SARP: It can be fitted with either a 7.62 mm / 12.7 mm machine gun.
•  Ukraine
  • SPYS-SYNTEZ,^[21] NATO nomenclature code: 2510-61-015-0429
  • Parus
  • Doublet
  • Taipan^[22]
  • Shturm-M^[23]
  • Kastet
•  United Kingdom
  • MSI-Defence Systems: Seahawk DS Remote
  • Thales: SWARM
•  United States
  • CROWS
  • Typhoon Weapon Station: Typhoon models designated MK38 MOD 2^[24] and later MK 38 MOD 3,^[25] and the Mini-Typhoon models designated MK49 MOD 0 ROSAM (Remote Operated Small Arms Mount)^[26] and later MK49 MOD 1.^[27]

See also

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