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Defence, space, and communications company Electro Optic Systems has opened its new R150 Remote Weapon System production line at its manufacturing facility in Canberra.
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The Australian defence industry exporter has opened an R150 production line in response to growing international demand for lightweight systems fitted to protected and utility vehicles.
The R150 stabilised, remote weapon system can be mounted on protected vehicles and be fitted with weapons up to and including a 12.7mm machine gun. The system allows soldiers to engage targets while remaining secure within the vehicle.
EOS Defence Systems executive vice president Matt Jones said the R150 has been designed and developed in Australia, focusing on addressing contemporary and emerging threats based on lessons learned in recent conflicts, such as in Ukraine.
“I am proud of the innovative, cutting-edge technology that our local employees in the Canberra region, supported by an Australian supply chain, have developed, which has gained recognition on the world stage.
“The R150 is entirely designed, developed, and manufactured in Australia.
“This remote weapon system will save Ukrainian lives, meeting an urgent operational need, allowing them to defeat the drone threat from within the safety of their vehicles.”
An initial batch of 14 R150 gimbals will be provided to the US. In 2022, US President Joe Biden announced that these systems would subsequently be delivered to Ukraine as part of the United States’ military assistance package.
Larger EOS RWS, such as those used by the Australian Defence Force, have already been provided to Ukraine, integrated with the Australian Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles. The R150 and the larger RWS already in use in Ukraine have a common user interface, enabling operators to switch seamlessly between the two systems without requiring additional training.
