KNDS-France’s ARX 30 RWS installed on a Serval APC as part of a counter-UAV system with mast-mounted radar at rear partly raised. (Photo: author)
How new battlefield threats are fuelling remote weapon station development
Remote weapon stations (RWS) are now commonplace on a wide range of AFV classes, and the latest generation of systems has evolved to offer dedicated counter-drone capabilities.
The KNDS-France ARX 30 RWS was originally developed as a private venture by the company for installation on new-build and older tracked and wheeled platforms to enhance their firepower... Continues below
This analysis article originally appeared in September's Decisive Edge Land Warfare Newsletter.
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The main armament is a 30M781MPG cannon fitted with a muzzle brake that fires 30x113mm ammunition and is also used on France’s Tigre attack helicopters.
The baseline ARX 30, according to KNDS-France, is more effective than an RWS armed with a 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher and offers a ‘step change’ in weapon effectiveness and range.
The cannon is stabilised in two axes with a single feed from the left and an effective range of at least 1,500m. Cyclic rate of fire is 225 rounds per minute (rpm) but this can be increased to 720rpm.
Types of ammunition fired include air burst, high-explosive dual-purpose, high-explosive incendiary, semi-armour piercing high-explosive and target practice with a muzzle velocity of 800m/s.
Traverse is all-electric through 360 degrees with weapon elevation from -15 to +55 degrees also under electric power.
The sensor pack for the ARX 30 is mounted externally on the right and consists of a charge-coupled device camera, uncooled IR imager and an eyesafe laser rangefinder.
The ARX 30 NEROD model adds video tracking and the ability to jam non-military drones, while the ARX 30 C-UAV adds a radar or radars on the platform to provide the ability to detect and identify UAS.
According to KNDS-France, this last upgrade coupled to 30mm proximity-fuzed ammunition would provide a complete counter-drone capability against mini- and micro-UAVs.
It has been shown installed on the roof of a French Army Serval 4x4 APC mounted on a raised plinth at the front.
Another application for the ARX 30 is for installation on the latest KNDS-Germany Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0 MBT.
Here, a bespoke version of the RWS is mounted on the turret roof with the sensor pack below and integrated into either side of the mount are four electrically operated grenade launchers.
According to KNDS-Germany this version also has a counter UAV capability. It would be laid onto the target by the gunner who is seated in-hull alongside the driver and commander.
The key feature of the ARX 30 RWS in the counter-UAV role is coupling it to a sensor package to detect and track very small targets when firing 30mm airburst rounds.
The drawback here though is that it is only a single-feed cannon which means it can normally be loaded with only one type of ammunition. So engaging other target types without reloading seems problematic. As ever in defence, there is no perfect solution!
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