US Army deploys CWS Containerized Weapon System to counter drones.

As reported by The Drive on November 15, 2023, the US Army employed a Containerized Weapon System (CWS) counter-drone system equipped with four Land-LGR4 70mm laser-guided rockets during the recent Red Sands 23.2 exercise. The exercise occurred at the Shamal-2 Range in northeastern Saudi Arabia and was coordinated by the Red Sands Integrated Experimentation Center.
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The Containerized Weapon System (CWS) counter-drone system is housed within a modified 10-foot ISO shipping container featuring a hinged roof (Picture source: Invariant Corporation)

Developed collaboratively by the US companies Invariant Corporation and HDT Global, the counter-drone system features an Arnold Defense Land-LGR4 four-round 70mm rocket launcher mounted on a modified Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station II (CROWS II) from the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defense. The primary munition is the Laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket, known for its accuracy against aerial targets.

Images from the exercise revealed a segment of the system, highlighting the modified CROWS II with an additional sensor system, possibly for tracking and laser designation. The CROWS II itself is equipped with electro-optical and infrared cameras, providing situational awareness.

The Containerized Weapon System (CWS), utilized as the core component for the counter-drone setup, has seen limited service in the U.S. Army for nearly a decade. Housed within a modified 10-foot ISO shipping container featuring a hinged roof, the system enables the platform with the CROWS II to be raised and lowered, facilitating reloading, maintenance, and interaction within the container's confines. The standardized nature of shipping containers simplifies the transportation of the CWS, allowing its transport by trucks and equipment designed for moving standardized containers.

Deployment of the CWS involves two soldiers and takes approximately 30 minutes, requiring an external power source. HDT Global emphasizes the system's networking capabilities, featuring an ethernet-enabled hub for integration with offboard sensors and fire control systems.

The counter-drone system comprises two separate containers: the "killer" container with the launcher and a second "hunter" container equipped with a sensor suite. The hunter container includes an RPS-42 radar array from Leonardo DRS and a sensor turret with electro-optical and infrared cameras. This dual-container configuration enhances the system's effectiveness in detecting, tracking, and engaging drone threats.

The counter-drone system integrates the CROWS II platform, allowing for the use of different armaments, including the .50 caliber M2 machine gun, 40mm Mk 19 Mod 3 automatic grenade launcher, and a Javelin anti-tank missile. The addition of the LAND-LGR4 and APKWS II enhances the system's precision engagement capabilities against both aerial and ground threats.