Estonian technology company Milrem Robotics and Belgian weapon system manufacturer John Cockerill Defense presented the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) with the Cockerill Protected Weapons Station Gen. II (CPWS II) to select military forces from around the world.
According to the company, the Type-X is a new generation combat machine with a hybrid drive, which will replace the current combat machines for transporting soldiers. Type-X is designed to increase and support the combat capability of mechanized units. The chassis of the Type-X vehicle has a revolutionary design for a multi-mission mobile modular vehicle that offers a platform for an entire family of unmanned armed vehicles.
John Cockerill Defense installed a CPWS Gen 2 weapon system on the battle machine, originally intended to be placed on armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. The weapon system is equipped with a 360-degree panoramic sight and CCD, thermal, and fused imaging cameras, which makes the system a suitable addition to an unmanned vehicle.
The RCV is designed to deploy at a weight below the 12-ton mark for rapid deployment into the combat theater, either by parachute or by heavy-lift helicopter. The Type-X, which combines augmented Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a remote system operator, is a tracked vehicle with armor protection that can supplement troop formations or operate independently, in unmanned formations.
“One of the first realistic roles for unmanned fighting vehicles will be convoy defense and perimeter or base defense. The Type-X with the CPWS can be placed in the front and rear of a convoy to provide additional eyes and firepower for the convoy,” said Simon Haye, the Chief Marketing Officer for John Cockerill Defense.
“Rarely does a convoy have available 25mm firepower, and given the system is unmanned, tactics like rushing an ambush site, or maneuvering on the enemy’s position are now legitimate options for a convoy under fire. The lead/follow functions of unmanned vehicles are well-developed technology, and spreading some operator stations through the convoy can provide redundancy and quick response. Further, FOB security can now be in the form of a mobile unmanned fighting vehicle. Instead of putting soldiers at risk on the wire, these Guardian Systems can provide relentless observation and the capability to maneuver and disperse an attack instead of just absorbing it.”
The key part is CPWS II, which is a low profile, lightweight turret that can mount the M242 25mm X 137mm Bushmaster cannon or the 230LF, 30mm X 113mm cannon. The CPWS II is a remotely operated turret, designed to fit on both 4X4 and 6X6 vehicles. It can operate in three modes that make the turret a desirable selection for unmanned vehicle operations.
