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Nexter FN Herstal Saab

Nexter’s Narwhal can engage surface targets up to 2 km away and is undergoing a modernization to add new functions. The RapidFire (designed in partnership with Thales) is designed to meet new naval requirements including close defense protection, but also surface-to-surface and surface-to-air threats such as drones and missiles, up to 4 km away. The Sea deFNder from FN Herstal seen here fitted with the FN M2HB-QCB 12.7mm machine gun can also be fitted with the FN M3R rapid fire machine gun that has a firing rate of over 1,000rpm. Saab's Trackfire RWS can be fitted with a variety of weapon types including 12.7mm and 7.62mm, as well as automatic grenade launchers and a chain gun.

can patrol in internal and territorial waters. Integrated with a CMS, this allows end-users to cover large areas like archipelagos. Harbour protection and anti-piracy missions are also of interest. And during expeditionary mission, launched from corvettes, the USV can address attacks from small surface combatants,” the spokesperson explained.

When fitted to USVs the RWS can be used to attack approaching threats or to protect critical infrastructure at sea such as oil rigs, or perform the CIWS defence role for larger ships. RWS fitted to USVs will require more enhanced artificial intelligence (AI) and image processing to be able to function effectively as a manned craft.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is in the early stages of introducing new maritime security (Marsec) USVs into service that will eventually be equipped with a 12.7mm MG and laser dazzler installed on a RWS from ST Engineering.

The Philippines Navy (PN) has initiated a programme to develop its own RWS for the M2 .50cal machine gun under Project BUHAWI (Building a Universal Mount for Heavy-Barrel Automated Weapon Integration). A Philippines DND announcement stated that the project it designed to improve the selfreliance of the Philippines armed forces for its equipment needs. The PN uses manned 12.7mm guns on its craft and the miniTyphoon RWS from Israeli defence company Rafael.

Meanwhile the latest entrant into the naval RWS market is the Lionfish family of systems from Italian defence company Leonardo, that was launched in 2020. It has been designed specifically to counter fast boats, fast inshore attack craft, helicopters and UAS. Lionfish is available with a 12.7mmx99mm calibre in three models: an Ultralight weight variant of 400lb (180kg), a below-deck Inner Reloading variant of 480lb (218kg) and a 660lb (300kg) Top variant with a larger 400 round magazine and improved electro-optical director and a cover for additional weather protection and improved stealth characteristics. The Inner Reloading model secured a launch customer in 2021.

A new 20mmx128mm calibre variant of Lionfish is under development and the company plans to complete its qualification and validation phase in 2022. It is similar to the Top model 12.7mm variant with the same EO director and cooled IR sensor, but weighing 992lb (450kg) with a magazine of 250 rounds, a rate of fire of 1,000 rounds per minute and a range of one nautical mile (2km) using an Oerlikon 20mm KAE gun. Lionfish joins Leonardo’s Marlin family of RWS that fires larger calibre weapons in the 30-40mm range.

In 2020, the French DGA procurement authority contracted Nexter to upgrade the 20B 20mm Narwhal naval RWS on all French Navy warships. This highlights the level of importance that naval RWS have as part of a ship’s defensive capability. The company has been installing the new ‘V1’ upgrade that includes a wider variety of shot selections and improved man-machine interface. Deliveries of the modernised Narwhals across the fleet are due to be completed later in 2022. A new V2 variant is expected to follow and a completely new system is due to begin development shortly in partnership with Naval Group.

Kongsberg’s Protector RS4 Naval RWS is based on its land-based Protector RWS family that the company states are the most fielded in the world with 20,000 units sold and in use. Gjennestad said that in late-2021 the company secured sales of the RS4 Naval to two different countries.

In 2020, FN Herstal’s 12.7mm Sea deFNder naval RWS using the M2HB-QCB gun was selected by French shipbuilder Naval Group as the weapon system for the 12 new Mine Countermeasure Vessels (MCMV) it is building for the Royal Netherlands Navy and Belgian Navy. Six vessels will be delivered to each navy from 2024. This shows that a wide range of vessels are being fitted with these modern gun systems to increase firepower that in the past would not otherwise have been equipped with.

In 2018 the Royal Swedish Navy ordered the Trackfire RWS for its new Combat Boat 90 (Strb90 HSM) amphibious vessels. Trackfire has been fitted with 7.62mm, 12.7mm and 40mm guns as well as a variety of non-lethal effectors. Sweden wants to up-gun its fast watercraft to provide additional firepower for its defensive forces across its Baltic coastline and waterways.

Nexter’s Lequeux said that the overall RWS offer on the naval market is being modernised: “These systems must be capable of firing in difficult sea conditions; they must have a target tracking mode; their maintenance must be as low as possible to avoid exposing the crew; they may or may not be integrated into the ship's CMS.”

Hansson told AMR: “The RWS market is expanding as it is delivering precise calibre weapons effects with better protection for the operators and improved hit performance compared to manually operated mounts.”

He concluded: “The improved performance is available due to development of lower cost / higher performance sensors (electro-optical, gyro, encoders etc) and also software functions that were earlier only available for much more complex systems. These trends will continue in the future as technology develops.”