Polish defense manufacturer PGZ unveils a counter-drone and anti-helicopter system mounted on a Ford F6060 pickup truck. It uses a radar and an optoelectronic head to detect, identify and track a target, coupled to a multibarrel WLKM 12.7mm machine gun.

PGZ anti-drone system mounted on a Ford F6060 chassis (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The structure is modular, meaning that it is reconfigurable to match the customer’s request, namely with a stabilization system. As displayed at MSPO 2022, the electrically-powered système is able to fight drone-like threats by day, under any weather conditions. The detection, identification, pointing and tracking operations are automatic, being linked to the radar and optoelectronic device but the decision to fire is left to the operator’s appreciation. The weapon consists in a four-barrel WLKM 12.7mm machine gun. The operator selects the rate of fire.

The anti-UAV capability extends to other low-flying and low-speed aircraft such as helicopters. The non-rotary radar enables the detection of targets as small as nano-drones within a distance of 3.5 km.

This anti-UAV system can obviously be mounted on a wide range of ground and naval platforms.

PGZ WLKM-12.7 Multi-Barrel Machine Gun fired from a naval platform (Picture source: PGZ)

The WLKM-12.7 Multi-Barrel Machine Gun is an externally driven electric-powered Gatling-style gun fed with 12.7 mm x 99 NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition fixed in an M9 disintegrating ammunition belt. The application of four rotating barrels helped to achieve a huge rate of fire up to 3,600 rpm. The weapon can be used as armament for a helicopter turret – e.g. W-3PL Głuszec or as aerial gun pod equipment. The usage varies; other than that the weapon can be used for ground vehicles, floating units, boats, and permanent or mobile firing posts. The WLKM 12.7 is designated against manpower, surface targets, and aerial objects of differential resistance parameters.

PGZ WLKM-12.7 Multi-Barrel Machine Gun mounted on a vehivle (Picture source: PGZ)