Janesreports that Norwegian firm Kongsberg has just won a billion-dollar contract to supply a version of its Protector remote weapon station to meet the US Army's Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) programme.
Remote weapon stations look like the wave of the future: instead of having the gunner standing up and exposing himself to fire, he can stay snug under armor and operate a weapon using a joystick and video screen. There are some disadvantages, as noted by Defense Industry Daily:
This approach does reduce situational awareness in many instances, thanks to a narrower field of view and fewer audio cues. In exchange, however, RWS systems offer full in-hull protection for the crew, much better fire-on-the-move capability, and the ability to use the RWS' advanced sensors in night or obscurement scenarios.
It has a daylight camera and thermal imager, plus a laser rangefinder and a system that automatically corrects for vehicle movement.
According to makers Kongsberg:
PROTECTOR - Remote Weapon Station is a remotely controlled weapon station for light and medium calibre weapons and can be installed on any type of vehicle. PROTECTOR has been in full scale production since December 2001. Since then more than 1300 systems have been delivered to several customers around the world.
PROTECTOR is a fourth generation system qualified for global operations and tested under some of the toughest battlefield conditions to date.
The basic model can mount a variety of light weapons including .50-cal, 7.62 or 5.56mm machine guns and 40-mm automatic grenade launchers. Other models can be fitted with Javelin or Hellfire missiles.
During the 1991 Gulf War, there were some slightly naïve comments about how war was being turned into a video game. With CROWS and the like the comparison becomes much more valid, and there has been talk of being able to "tap the video game skills of young soldiers."
With CROWS the gunner is still somewhat vulnerable, being inside the vehicle only a few feet away. But I can see the day coming when both gunner and driver are located safely back at base, and the entire mission is remote control. It may sound ridiculous – but any idea that guarantees a 0% casualty rate is likely to be popular. I suspect that a billion dollars is just the start.
