Bulgarian vehicles gain Guardian RWS
Bulgarian SOF armoured vehicle with Guardian RWS (centre), pictured in December 2021. (Photo: Samel-90)
Armoured vehicles for Bulgarian SOF have been enhanced with the Guardian RWS.
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
-
![Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx fighting vehicles set for first taste of combat in Ukraine]()
Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx fighting vehicles set for first taste of combat in Ukraine
A June 2024 agreement with Ukraine for Rheinmetall to provide 10 KF41s along with the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the country has moved a step closer, with the factory now built and a contract signed.
-
![First gun barrels for British Army howitzers due from Rheinmetall’s new UK factory in 2027]()
First gun barrels for British Army howitzers due from Rheinmetall’s new UK factory in 2027
The new Rheinmetall facility will supply barrels for UK RCH 155 howitzers and Challenger 3 tanks while also opening up potential export opportunities, providing a currently absent national capability.
-
![Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows]()
Germany increases Arrow missile defence deal to $6.1 billion as American interest grows
Germany’s move to buy Israel Aerospace Industries’ Arrow missile defence system became public in mid-2023 with approval from the US government shortly after. The first operational system is expected to be in service before 2030.
