The Arbalet-DM remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) was successfully tested for the first time last week, even at night, against a moving target resembling a helicopter. It tracked the target from over 2,000 meters away, the Russian MoD said in a statement.

Arbalet-DM RWCS mounted on Tigr-M 4x4 armored vehicle. (Picture source Army Recognition)

Arbalet-DM’s gross weight is about 250 kg. The main armament is a 6P49 12.7mm Kord machine gun, which has a rate of fire up to 600 rounds per minute. The sighting range at ground targets and flying targets reaches 2,000 meters in the daytime and 1,500 m in the nighttime. The machine gun is fed with 450 sounds. To enhance the security of the vehicle, to the Arbalet-DM RCWS can receive 4 smoke grenade launchers.

The fire control system includes a gunner sighting system PC-SU IPTSYU.201219.026 with a low-level TV camera that provides a range of detection and identification of the target sample with a narrow field of vision at not less than 2,500 meters. The laser rangefinder works from 100 to 3,000 meters.

Arbalet-DM was tested for armored vehicles: Typhoon APC, Tigr-M, MT-LB multipurpose tractor, and ANT-1000R robotic systems but the system can be mounted on surface vessels and tracked vehicles as well. It was inducted in 2016 in the Russian army.

Close view of Arbalet-DM RWCS Remote Controlled Weapon Station. (Picture source Army Recognition)