JOHNSTOWN, PENN., June 25, 2021 – In collaboration with the U.S. Army, KONGSBERG Defence and Aerospace and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) conducted a four-shot, multi-platform Javelin demonstration at the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center in Alabama on May 25, 2021. Three different vehicles were each equipped with different configurations of the KONGSBERG Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Javelin (CROWS-J) and Protector RS6 Remote Weapon Station (RWS).
“KONGSBERG has solidified its position as the remote weapon station of choice for Javelin deployment across a broad range of platforms. Our remote weapon stations are powerful force multipliers, especially given that we’re delivering a Multi-User Multi-Station (MUMS) capability to facilitate advanced target sharing and cooperative engagement,” said Jason Toepfer, director for Army Business Development (US) at KONGSBERG Defence and Aerospace. “Our continued investments in the architecture and platforms overall maximize the U.S. military’s current inventory, training and provisioning while providing groundbreaking advancements in capability.”
During the demonstration, three different KONGSBERG remote weapon station configurations on three unique ground platforms fired Javelin, successfully engaging targets each time. Using QinetiQ North America’s Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-L), KONGSBERG executed a fully remote firing of Javelin using CROWS Tech Refresh control components. This was a first for the Army’s official RCV-L platform and demonstrated Tech Refresh’s backwards compatibility with legacy CROWS systems.
Another firing demonstrated KONGSBERG’s capability to fire Javelin on a 4×4 (JLTV) platform from a previously qualified and fielded system within the inventory on an 8×8 platform – the same KONGSBERG RWS that is currently fielded with Stryker brigades in Germany.
Finally, KONGSBERG continued to showcase its PROTECTOR RS6 (30x113mm) platform by successfully firing javelin from a lightweight, Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV). The RS6 RWS is the system selected by the U.S. Marine Corps for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) program. This Javelin firing is one of several conducted from this station and further demonstrates the inherent flexibility of the RS6 design, allowing users to address a broad range of threats and operational needs – C-UAS, SHORAD, ATGM, Maneuver Support, Manned / Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) – from a single system.
With more than 20,000 systems delivered worldwide and 14 years of CROWS experience, KONGSBERG will continue to support the soldiers with new systems, capabilities and features meeting tomorrow’s requirements while maintaining, supporting and keeping up to date a wide range of CROWS variants and support equipment. All CROWS and RWS systems are produced in the KONGSBERG Johnstown, PA facility. Continuing the execution of this contract secures 3,000+ jobs, both directly and through the KONGSBERG U.S. supply chain. With systems sold to 26 nations, KONGSBERG is the world-leading provider of remote weapon stations.
Built from lightweight, rugged polymer and driven by a compressed CO2 air tank, the FN 303 Mk2 upgrades FN’s less lethal technology for today’s officers, delivering pin-point accuracy out to 50-plus yards with new, adjustable flip up metal sights and a MIL-STD 1913 top rail for optical or red dot sights. The optimized operating system doubles the service life of the FN 303 Mk2, now allowing 5,000 projectiles to be fired before first routine maintenance is required thus reducing department armorer maintenance requirements.
