“Transformative Live-Fire Showcase: The Remote Turret 60-Boxer Shines in Norway”
There is a growing movement for military Land Forces globally to substitute manned crew-operated weapon systems on vehicles with remotely operated weapon systems, aiming to enhance crew safety, boost accuracy, minimize collateral damage, offer improved situational awareness, and amplify the effectiveness of deployed weapon systems. This evolution has aligned with Land Forces internationally incorporating 8×8, wheeled, Armoured Fighting Vehicles into their active fleets.
Keeping these two developments in focus, for over two years, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KONGSBERG) in Norway has been collaborating closely with Krauss Maffei Wegman (KMW) (now KMW+Nexter Defence Systems (KNDS)) in Germany, to incorporate the KONGSBERG PROTECTOR RT60 Remote Turret on the Boxer Armoured Fighting Vehicle.
Initially showcased at the launch of the KNDS Boxer manufacturing facility at WFEL, Stockport, in May 2021, the ongoing collaboration between KONGSBERG and KNDS has given rise to a remarkable, integrated capability of the RT60-Boxer, which has recently successfully undergone platform and turret evaluations.
“Concrete proof of this collaboration between KONGSBERG and KNDS has been the successful live-fire trials and demonstration of the RT60-Boxer in Norway, in front of a large international audience. This significant milestone offers potential end-users a state-of-the-art, low-risk, integrated Remote Turret and Boxer configuration suitable for the contemporary Land Force,” stated Eirik Tord Jensen, Executive Vice President, Land Systems division, at the conclusion of the successful demonstration.
The RT60, which builds upon the legacy of the RT20, provided to the USMC as part of the ACV Programme, and the RT40, supplied to the US Army STRYKER Programme, enhances both these functionalities, offering a technologically sophisticated, highly dependable, remote turret capability, well-suited to modern and future military operations. KONGSBERG Remote Turrets have already been integrated on various vehicles, including multiple Unmanned Ground Vehicles, demonstrating the capacity to safely operate and fire the remote turrets via radio control.
Expanding on the capabilities of the RT20 and RT40, the RT60 equips infantry or reconnaissance units with a wide array of functionalities, featuring an advanced sensor package, including a daytime camera, thermal imaging camera, and laser-range-finder, alongside an upgraded weapon suite comprising a Mk44 30 x 173mm cannon, a 7.62 coaxial weapon, a Commander’s Independent Remote Weapon System (PROTECTOR RS4), with multiple weapon system integration possibilities, and twin under-armour Anti-Tank Guided Missiles.
The combined remote turret expertise of KONGSBERG and platform experience of KNDS has facilitated a swift and relatively straightforward integration of the RT60 onto the Boxer, which has excelled in all testing thus far.
