Thursday, December 04, 2008

RCWS

IOC: 2004
Total Production: 1,000

RCWS-30

IOC: 2005

Also Known As
Samson

Origin
Israel

Contractor/s
Rafael

Applications
Pandur II 8x8
Valuk 6x6

Family Members
RCWS
Samson Junior

Guided Missiles:
SPIKE-ER (2)
SPIKE-LR (2)

Guns & Missile Launchers:
Mk 44

Description: The Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) is a modular weapon system supporting small and medium caliber guns (40mm automatic grenade launcher), machine guns (12.7mm and 7.62mm), anti-tank missile launchers, automatic guns (30mm) and observation pods. These stations can be mounted on a wide range of ground platforms ranging from lightweight all-terrain vehicles to heavy armor tanks.

Its remote control system enables armored vehicles crew to operate the RCWS completely under armor minimizing the probability of a crew member casualty. This feature makes the RCWS exceptionally suitable for urban warfare such as the military operations conducted by US forces in Iraq (2003-2005) and Israeli forces in the Palestinian territories. The RCWS armed with a 7.62mm machine gun is known as Enforcer while the 12.7mm gun equipped variant is known as the RCWS-12.7.

In August 2005 Rafael announced that the RCWS-30 equipped with a 30mm cannon had completed a series of successful field tests in Finland and Israel. RCWS-30 was integrated onto Patria AMV 8x8 armored vehicle and Achzarit APC demonstrating different scenarios at a variety of ranges. The RCWS-30 was offered for British Army's FV432 modernization program.

The weapon station's main gun is stabilized to allow fire on-the-move. RCWS-30 is also known as Samson and includes the Mk-44 30mm gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and two Spike LR anti-tank missiles (optional). This weapon station can be fitted with optional equipment to meet customer needs.

In February 2006 General Dynamics European Land Systems (Steyr) selected the RCWS-12.7 and RCWS-30 weapon stations to equip Czech Republic's Pandur II armored vehicles under a $120 million contract awarded to Rafael. Samson/RCWS-30 station was provided with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and two Spike LR anti-tank missiles in addition to the Mk-44 30mm gun. The contract also included Rafael add-on armor kits.

Specifications
Guns: Caliber 30 mm

News
Czech Pandur II to Be Fitted with Rafael Weapon Stations

Operators

see operators map | see family operators map

Czech Republic

Slovenia

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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