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Electro Optic Systems has unveiled its new T2000-DE directed energy variant turret, providing additional counter-UAS capabilities to T2000 combat vehicle teams.
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Electro Optic Systems has this week unveiled its new T2000-DE directed energy variant turret, providing additional counter-UAS capabilities to the company’s T2000 armaments and weapon stations.
According to a company spokesperson, the T2000 will be available in three variants including crewed, uncrewed and directed energy models.
Operating as part of a combat team, the T2000-DE will engage drone targets at longer range and higher altitudes than cannon or machine gun systems. These drones are larger, faster and more resilient ISR/C2 drones that acquire targets and designate for attack drones. The concept of operations is for the T2000-DE to destroy or blind the ISR/C2 drones to remove the target acquisition or designation capability, with the cannon-machine gun allocated individual attack drones to shoot down as they get closer.
Such directed energy weapon capabilities further provide cost effective mechanisms to defend vehicle teams against UAS. While smart explosive rounds are both expensive and can be subject to supply chain disruption, directed energy is only reliant on power in the vehicle’s system.
The T2000-DE is based on the standard crewed T2000 turret that mounts a multitude of weapons systems to address threat actors from both air and land.
The system includes two Rafael SPIKE LR2 missiles mounted in an armoured pop-up launcher for longer range anti-armour engagements. The mainstay cannon of the turret is also fitted with the option of either the Bushmaster MK44S 30/40mm cannon or Bushmaster Mk3 35/50mm cannon. The NG Bushmaster cannon is Allied interoperable with all NATO, European and US supplied ammunition natures.
The turret is also fitted with the EOS R400 RWS Commander’s Independent Weapon Station, which will provide options for 7.62 to 30mm weapons systems delivering counter-UAS capabilities on the turret.
The weapons system is underpinned by a 360-degree radar and laser warning systems, as well as Elbit’s Iron Fist active protection system and Iron Vision helmet mounted situational awareness system.
Grant Sanderson, chief executive officer of EOS Defence Systems (Global) outlined that the T2000 turret system was designed to address the requirements of the future battlefield in one integrated system.
Sanderson explained that as new technologies emerge and are retroactively fitted into turret systems, the likelihood for turret failure increases. The T2000, on the other hand, integrated the capabilities into the turret from the design phase.
EOS is a member of Team Redback for the development and delivery of an infantry fighting vehicle for the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
[Related: EOS tests T2000 turret at NSW range]
