Estonia is becoming the 28th KONGSBERG Defence & Aerospace PROTECTOR RWS (Remote Weapon System) user nation.
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Press Release, Kongsberg, 07 Dec 2021: The Estonian CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicles were acquired from Norway back in 2016 to broaden the capabilities of the Estonian Armed Forces. Earlier this year, Go Craft and Scania Estonia were awarded the contract for a modernisation and upgrade programme that will run over the next two years. To meet future roles, the refurbished CV90 vehicles will be equipped with the PROTECTOR RS4 from KONGSBERG.
“I am proud that we are expanding our footprint by going into partnership with Estonia as the 28th nation choosing the KONGSBERG PROTECTOR RWS,“ says Arne Gjennestad, Vice President Marketing & Sales, KONGSBERG.
Enhanced operational capabilities: The PROTECTOR RS4 is a highly flexible system designed for small and medium calibre weapons including mounting of coaxial weapons and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. An advanced and modular sensor suite enables unique and tailorable situational awareness. The fully stabilised 2 + 2 Axis system enables the gunner to keep his sights on target, independent of ballistic solution for the weapon and ammunition in use.
The PROTECTOR RS4 is a mature and proven product based on millions of hours of operational experience in combat zones and close cooperation with Defence Forces worldwide. The PROTECTOR RS4 variant that Estonia has acquired includes the capability to fire the Raytheon Lockheed Martin Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile. The Javelin is developed in a Joint Venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and is the world’s premier one-person-portable anti-armour missile. Javelin is a highly capable fire-and-forget missile defending against emerging near equal threats. Integrated with the PROTECTOR RS4, the Javelin is extended to a remote fired platform-based capability.
“The combination of PROTECTOR RS4 and the Javelin takes the total system to a whole new level. Their complementary features greatly enhances the Estonian operational capability,” says Gjennestad.
The combined KONGSBERG PROTECTOR RWS-Javelin system has already demonstrated itself as an accurate and reliable solution. Several successful live fire demonstrations in Europe and USA has proven great capability on a wide range of platforms, ranging from smaller robotic vehicles to armoured 8×8 platforms.
The PROTECTOR RWS evolution: The PROTECTOR family of Remote Weapon Systems is suitable for any mission – on land or at sea, on mobile or static platforms. They can integrate effectors for remote operation of payloads ranging from small calibre weapons to medium calibre automatic cannons. The PROTECTOR RWS are continuously evolving to defeat future threats and meet the customer’s operational requirements.
The PROTECTOR RWS have an unprecedented Operational Readiness Rate of 99% and low life cycle costs. More than 20.000 PROTECTOR Remote Weapon Systems have been produced to date and by adding Estonia to the list, the total number of 28 nations have acquired systems from the PROTECTOR RWS family.
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