Remote Weapon Stations RWS - Remotely Controlled Weapon Systems

FN Herstal deFNder Light Medium made in Belgium

The Belgian firearms manufacturer FN Herstal has launched in 2008 the development of a new family of Remotely operated controlled Weapon Stations (RWS) starting with the deFNder™ Light followed in 2010 by the deFNder™ Medium. Based on his experience in the manufacturing of light and heavy machine guns, FN Herstal has designed and manufactured a new generation of Remote Weapon Station (RWS) offering the integration of its full range machine guns including 5.56mm / 7.62 mm machine guns or M2/M3 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The deFNder Light is available in three variants able to be integrated with a Minimi 5.56 mm / 7.62 mm machine gun or the MAG 7.62 mm machine gun while the deFNder Medium can be armed with FN M2/M3 12.7mm caliber as well as a 40mm grenade launcher. Both, deFNder Light and deFNder Medium can be integrated into all types of tracked or wheeled armored vehicles as well as light tactical vehicles allowing firing under armor of the vehicle. The deFNder family is built from light but sturdy aluminium. In option, deFNder family can be equipped with a wide range of accessories including day and night infrared sighting systems, target-tracking and image stabilization functions, ballistic protection, higher capacity ammunition boxes (up to 500 .50-calibre rounds), and interfaces with sensors such as BMS, SADLS, LWR and radar. The deFNder RWS can be also used on ground platforms to provide self-protection of critical infrastructure or checkpoints. Recently, the remote weapon stations of FN Herstal were also mounted on UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) armed with a machine gun up to 12.7mm or automatic cannon up to 30mm caliber.

Remote Weapon Stations RWS variants:

- deFNder Light:
- deFNder Medium:

deFNder Light

Design

The FN Herstal deFNder™ light is based on a modular design. Sight module, ammunition box module and control handle are customer choice, designed, developed and qualified in accordance with MIL-STD-1472, 810, 461, 1275 and MIL-HDBK 217E, Stanag 4370. The FN Herstal deFNder™ features a soft recoil mount that minimizes shocks and vibrations, hence guaranteeing a high hit probability rate and reduced collateral damage. The FN Herstal deFNder™ Light is a remote-controlled weapon system (RWS) that can be armed with a MINIMI 5.56 machine gun fully loaded weighs less than 80 kg and does not exceed 520mm in height in a basic configuration. The turret can be also armed with a 7.62mm MAG machine gun. The weapon is mounted to the center of an electrically driven base with an ammunition box on the left and optics on the right. In option, the turret can be fitted with a two-axis gyroscopic stabilization system as well as smoke grenade dischargers.

Control Station

The FN Herstal deFNder™ Light consists of two main parts including the weapon station with optics, armament, cradle, and ammunition box and the control station inside of the vehicle with operator console (LCD screen) and the control handle that could be one-hand joystick or game-pad. The FN Herstal deFNder™ Light has a traverse of 360° with elevation from +80° to -60°. The turret has a maximum traverse speed of 90°/sec and an elevation speed of 60°/sec.

Accessories

The standard day sight provides Narrow and Wide Field of Views for standard NATO detection, recognition and identification of targets at high ranges. The display unit consists of one 1024x768 pixels LCD color screen. The optics of the turret include Color CCD camera and Infra-Red Cooled or Uncooled system with target tracking and image stabilization. Various optional sights are available to enhance further target acquisition under all visibility conditions, as LLCCD sight or IR thermal sight.

deFNder Medium

Design

The deFNder™ Medium is the medium weight remote weapon station of deFNder family. It can integrate all FN Herstal machine guns up to .50 caliber, including the unique FN M3R™ machine gun with a high firing rate of 1,100 RPM as well as a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Recently, FN Herstal has demonstrated that the deFNder™ Medium could be armed with cannon up to 30mm. The deFNder™ Medium is based on an aluminum weapons mount and uses an electrically driven base that can continuously traverse the weapon and sight through 360° and elevate them in the range +73° to -42°. In option, the turret can be fitted with smoke grenade dischargers.

Control Station

To control the deFNder™ Medium weapon station, there is an operator console and control handle. Fire control and weapon management functions include single shot and adjustable length burst options, fired round counter and end-of-belt cut-off. The operator interface features a display console for target identification and engagement at 8,500m; 3,400m and 1,750m, along with a single handle that controls sight selection, aiming and firing.

Accessories

In standard configuration, the FN Herstal deFNder™ Medium incorporates Sagem CM3 MR (Medium Range) with uncooled IR thermal sight and a CCD camera for day vision. In option, the optic module can be fitted with cooled thermal IR cameras as well as a laser rangefinder. A ballistic computer is available as an optional extra.

Remote Weapon Station FN Herstal deFNder Light
Remote Weapon Station FN Herstal deFNder Medium