Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station
This article contains promotional content. (October 2023) |
| Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station | |
|---|---|
| File:MSPO2007-55.jpg Samson RCWS mounted on top of a KTO Rosomak prototype in 2007. | |
| Type | Remote controlled weapon station |
| Place of origin | Israel |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems |
| Manufacturer | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems |
| Variants | See Variants |
The Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS), also known as Katlanit (קטלנית in Hebrew: "lethal") is a remote weapon system (RWS) that enables a variety of devices to be operated automatically or by remote control, including 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, and 12.7 mm .50 BMG machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles and observation pods.[1]
Variants
[edit | edit source]There are a total of three variants of the Samson family:
- Samson Jr. ROWS - for 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, weighing 60–75 kg (132–165 lb).
- Mini Samson ROWS - for 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm machine guns, as well as 40 mm grenade launcher, weighing 140–160 kg (310–350 lb), similar to that of Mini Typhoon naval ROWS and OWS.
- Standard Samson - for guns with calibre ranging from 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in), weighing 1.5 tonnes (1.5 long tons; 1.7 short tons), similar to that of standard Typhoon naval ROWS and OWS.[2]
For example, the Samson Remote Controlled Weapon System for 30 mm autocannon is designed to be mounted on lightly-armoured, high-mobility military vehicles and operated by a gunner or vehicle commander operating under-the-deck. It offers optional SPIKE guided missile, smoke grenade launcher, and embedded trainer. The RCWS 30 is a product of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.[3]
Israel has also installed a variant of the Samson RCWS in pillboxes along the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier.[4]
The Sentry Tech system, dubbed Roeh-Yoreh (Sees-Fires) in IDF service deployed on the Gaza fence, enables camera operators located in a rear-located intelligence base to engage border threats using the 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and the SPIKE guided missile.[5]
Operators
[edit | edit source]
- File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia: LAV III[6]
- File:Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia: 4 stations initially procured for needs of Croatian Army, installed and tested on M84D and M95 tanks, but eventually Croatian Army opted for Protector RWS, 12.7 mm and 30 mm.
- File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czech Republic: Pandur II[7]
- File:Flag of Israel.svg Israel: IDF Namer, some IDF Achzarit, some HMMWV
- File:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania: 88 German Boxer Infantry Fighting Vehicles with Rafael's weapon stations with 30 mm cannons and "Spike LR" antitank missiles[8]
- File:Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore: Hunter AFV[9]
- File:Flag of the United States (23px).png United States: Infantry Carrier Vehicle Dragoon[10]
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References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Rafael Armament Development Authority
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ "Lethal Robotic Technologies: The Implications for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law" Philip Alston, Journal of Law, Information and Science, 2012
- ^ Samson RWS on Colombian LAV III Archived 2016-10-19 at the Wayback Machine – Armyrecognition.com, December 29, 2012
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
