EOS and Elbit Systems launch new turret at Avalon 2019.

The Australian Minister for Defence, Christopher Pyne, joined the EOS team at Avalon 2019 for the global launch of the new EOS turret for armoured vehicles. Designated the T2000, the turret is the result of a collaboration between EOS and Elbit Systems. It adds a next generation, medium calibre turret to the EOS family of weapon systems and has been designed to meet a rapidly emerging global market worth more than AUD$4 billion.

Dr Ben Greene, the Group CEO of EOS (left), and Christopher Pyne, Australian Minister for Defence (right) at Avalon 2019 (Picture source: EOS)

Speaking at the EOS Space Systems co-exhibitor pod, part of the NSW Government stand, Minister Pyne said: “This latest development and successful collaboration is an example of Australia’s growing defence industry capabilities. EOS is a fantastic Australian success story, producing advanced remote weapons systems and sensors for export and use by the ADF and our friends and allies.”

The T2000 delivers key advantages over currently available medium calibre turret solutions. The T2000 establishes a new technology standard for medium calibre turrets, with advanced features never previously offered collectively in a fully integrated solution:

* Unprecedented firepower with 30-40 mm high performance cannon, 30 mm lightweight cannon, and up to two 7.62 mm GPMG;
* 21st century situational awareness, including see-through armour, laser warning, and 360o radar;
* Integrated active protection; Anti-tank guided missile fully integrated and protected;
* UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) management port for UAS deployment and operation, as well as counter-UAS systems;
* Embedded training and crew procedural simulation; Manned version, or unmanned version with no hull penetration.

Logistics. Commonality of sensors, human machine interfaces (HMI) and software across the EOS family offers significant logistic and maintenance savings where multiple EOS RWS and turrets are in-service.

Software and Training. The T2000 uses the EOS common user interface ensuring that any operator already trained on an EOS Remote Weapon System (RWS) can directly transition to the T2000 at a much lower training burden. For organisations with military vehicle fleets comprising multiple platforms and weapon configurations this will provide significant cost savings in training, as well as easing the on-going training and annual qualification burdens for all turret or weapon system operators.

Speaking at the turret launch, Dr Ben Greene the Group CEO of EOS said: “The T2000 has been designed from the ground up as a new platform for supporting a wide range of emerging surveillance, protection and lethality solutions from multiple vendors in a fully integrated environment. The turret uses an industry standard vehicle interface and represents the next generation of capability integration.”

“EOS will compete with this turret for the requirements of Australia’s allies and partners globally, and over $1 billion of competitive offers have already been submitted in early 2019 for award from 2020. EOS will manufacture the turret in Australia and its established Australian supply chain will be expanded to meet turret demand.”