Bulgarian vehicles gain Guardian RWS
Bulgarian SOF armoured vehicle with Guardian RWS (centre), pictured in December 2021. (Photo: Samel-90)
Four of the armoured vehicles recently received by Bulgarian SOF feature the Guardian modular remote weapon station (RWS) from Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, the Spanish company announced on 12 January.
These RWSs have been installed on 4x4 armoured vehicles produced by a JV between Bulgarian manufacturer Samel 90 and UAE-based International Armored Group.
Escribano stated that it expects eight more vehicles to be equipped with Guardian in ‘the coming months’.
Guardian is designed to provide short- and medium-range defence for armoured vehicles. Based on a gyro-stabilised double-axis platform, its main armament is a Bushmaster Mk44S 30mm automatic cannon with a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the Spanish MoD selected Guardian for its VCR 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle in June 2021.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Milrem outlines plans for Havoc and Vector as Ukrainian THeMIS numbers set to double
Milrem’s THeMIS uncrewed ground vehicle is one of the most battle-proven medium UGV platforms in service, with the company looking to have production versions of new large platforms ready before the end of the decade.
-
US Precision Strike Missile makes combat debut in Operation Epic Fury
CENTCOM confirmed that PrSMs have been deployed in the offensive against Iran, bringing what it called “an unrivalled deep strike capability”.
-
February land forces roundup: ST Engineering and Russia lift the lid on new platforms
This month we saw a major presence from Turkish, Russian and Chinese companies at the World Defense Show with new vehicles from major suppliers, while elsewhere there were evolving mortar programmes and artillery modernisation efforts.