Irish Piranhas to be fitted with Protector RWS
Kongsberg will deliver its Protector Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) to the Irish defence force under a new contract announced on 10 January.
The RWS is being acquired by the Irish forces as part of its Piranha III upgrade programme, which is expected to include the entire Piranha III fleet being fitted with Protector M151 systems over the next five years. This contract covers the first set of upgrades.
The Protector RWS is designed for small and medium calibre weapons and can be installed on any type of platform. It protects military troops by allowing the vehicle’s weapons to be operated from a protected position inside the vehicle.
The systems will be delivered in September 2014.
More from Land Warfare
-
Billion-dollar Belgium deal for NASAMS creates multinational air defence system
The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) is in service on five continents with more than 120 platforms delivered. The system will now form part of Belgium’s Blue Dome air defence system alongside new orders for Skyranger air defence and Thales radar systems.
-
Clearer military requirements could unlock UGV market growth
Western armies continue to test uncrewed ground vehicles, but wider procurement will depend on turning ambitions for autonomy into defined operational roles and funded requirements.
-
Can NATO’s CUAS marketplace turn urgent demand into deliveries?
Framework contracts and leasing options aim to shorten acquisition timelines, while manufacturing partnerships could help suppliers scale production to meet allied demand.
-
A medium UGV market emerges as the US weighs up its options
The US is pursuing multiple UGV programmes, from commercial robotic platforms to new autonomy technologies. The combination of these efforts could prove key to turning ambition into operational capability.
-
NATO looks for answers to overcome standards hurdles and improve procurement
NATO is looking to artificial intelligence to provide integration between different C2 systems to create a common operational picture, potentially offering a faster route to interoperability than the slow-moving processes of NATO standards committees.