SOFINS 2021: Nexter unveils Cteniza dissimulated armed container.

Cteniza is a small genus of Old World trapdoor spiders found in France and Italy, first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1829. It dissimulates itself in the sand and, once a prey is detected, suddenly jumps out of its hidden position and hits its prey. So does Nexter's concept designed to repel or neutralize an incoming threat by surprise.

Nexter's Cteniza in "open" position, the gun being ready to fire (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Dissimulated in a standard - but hardened if requested - 20-foot container, a remotely controlled weapon station armed with a 20mm automatic gun can be put anywhere a fixed or moving environment. Should be to fight against maritime piracy, such a container can be stored on a ship among the other containers, unnoticed. Once pirates are approaching, the operator (posted in the ship's control room) can command the upper side to quickly rotate and so reveal the gun ready to fire.

Should it be necessary to protect a logistic convoy on its way from one place to another, Nexter's Cteniza container can be loaded on a standard flatbed truck dissimulated among the other trucks, its RWS inverted and so hidden from view. If a threat appears, the operator can immediately show the defensive power of the convoy by rotating the RWS.

Should it be necessary to protect a campsite, Nexter's Cteniza can be put in a place from where its gun can be immediately put into action in case an attack needs to be repelled, causing huge surprise in the ranks of the attackers.

The technical solution chosen by Nexter to switch from hidden to ready-to-fire position appears to be the most technically reliable.

Nexter's Cteniza rotating toward hidden position, upside down (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Nexter's Cteniza rotating toward hidden position, upside down (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Nexter's Cteniza rotating toward hidden position, upside down (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Nexter's Cteniza in closed/hidden position, upside down (Picture source: Army Recognition)