Australia: EOS launches new ultralight R150 stabilised, lightweight platform for RWCS

Electro Optic Systems (EOS) today launched the latest product in its family of highly successful remote weapons systems. The R150 is a stabilised, lightweight platform for remotely mounting weapon systems on protected vehicles.

EOS R150 stabilised, lightweight platform for remotely mounting weapon systems, mounted here on a Thales Hawkeye (Picture source: EOS)

It follows in the footsteps of its larger sibling, the R400. Designed to be half the weight, the R150 has exactly the same performance characteristics as the R400 when fitted with weapons up to and including the 12.7mm machine gun.

Developed as part of a Commonwealth Priority Industry Capability Innovation Proposal to develop the next generation of sovereign remote weapon systems, the R150 has now finalised testing and is due to enter production by the end of 2018. The stabilised lightweight remote weapon system that can be fitted with a heavy machine gun, something that no other remote weapon system in its weight class can do. It uses exactly the same control group and electronics and is plug and play. A vehicle with an R400 mounted can be replaced with and R150 in approximately 20 minutes and there is no discernible difference for the operator.

Over 1200 of the R400 have been sold world-wide and interest in the R150 is growing, with EOS having been approached by several overseas countries looking for a lighter weight system to provide protection for smaller armoured and logistic vehicles.

EOS is already a major defence industry exporter and the addition of the R150 has the potential to add further overseas contracts and support job growth in Australia, directly with EOS and through its Australian supply chain.

The EOS R400 remote weapon system is in-service with the Australian Army on the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle – Medium and has been selected as the remote weapon system for the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle Project support vehicles.