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.
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