Common Remotely Operated Weapon System

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The Common Remotely Operated Weapon System program, (CROWS) is a remote-control weapon system that can currently be mounted to a variety of vehicles, including the M1114 and M1116 up-armored HMMWV and the M1117 Armored Security Vehicle.[1]

[edit] Suppliers for the CROWS program

The first supplier for the CROWS program was Recon Optical (Barrington, IL, USA) with their RAVEN SRWS product.[2]

After an open solicitation Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (Kongsberg, Norway and Johnstown, PA, USA) won the CROWS II contract with a variant of their M151 PROTECTOR, which is also used on the Stryker M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle.[3][4] KONGSBERG received a frame-contract of more than 1 billion USD and a first purchase order exceeding 300 million USD.[5]

[edit] CROWS specification highlights

The CROWS is composed of two parts: the mount which is fixed to the exterior of the vehicle and the control group. The mount is capable of 360 degree azimuth rotation and -20 to +60 degree elevation. It accepts a variety of crew-served weapons, including the M2HB .50-cal Machine Gun, the Mk19 40-mm Automatic Grenade Machine Gun, the M240B 7.62-mm MG and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. The sensor unit includes a daylight video camera, a thermal imager for night operations and an eye-safe laser rangefinder. It is also furnished with a fully integrated fire control system that provides ballistic correction.[6]

The CROWS control group mounts inside the vehicle (behind the driver's seat on the HMMWV). It includes a display, switches and joystick to provide full remote control of the weapon system. This enables the fighting crew to operate from inside armored combat vehicles, while still carrying out patrols, acquiring targets, and firing a variety of weapons more efficiently. [7]

The first RAVEN units as part of the first CROWS contract were fielded in 2004 in Iraq, employed by Special Forces, military police, infantry and transport units. So far, more than 200 units have been fielded.[8]

CROWS is one of the weapons featured in America's Army.

[edit] References

  1. ^ CROWS = Videogame + Vehicle + Real Guns
  2. ^ Recon/Optical Inc.: Crows
  3. ^ fbodaily.com
  4. ^ U.S. GAO - B-310436; B-310436.2, Recon Optical, Inc., December 27, 2007
  5. ^ Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace
  6. ^ XM101 Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS)
  7. ^ CROWS gets Airmen out of the turret
  8. ^ Army Deploys CROWS