silence is deafening, page-16

mst20twenty said that General Dynamics were the company that said metalstorm weren't allowed to publish their name in relation to a successful test firing last December 2008
I wonder if there is any connection here?

It is interesting to see that GD have now enterered into the CROWS field by purchasing a company that was working in that field!

Army TACOM LCMC Contracts With General Dynamics Land Systems for 98 CROWS II Kits
Published: 9/15/2009

The U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, Acquisition Center (TACOM LCMC) (Warren, MI) awarded General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. (GDLS) (Sterling Heights, MI) a one-year, $6.1 million undefinitized change order modification to an existing firm-fixed-price contract (W56HZV-06-G-0006) for the procurement of 98 each Commanders Remote Operated Weapons Stations version 2 kits (CROWS II) for

http://www.dacis.com/dacisnewswire/details.lasso?&ID=289522&-session=IBP_MainSite:6EAFDCD11657536106ouS23D0880


http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/General-Dynamics-Acquires-Axsys-for-643M-05477/#more-5477

General Dynamics Acquires Axsys for $643M
04-Jun-2009 20:37 EDT

General Dynamics has agreed to pay $643 million to acquire Axsys Technologies, the world’s leading diamond turning optical manufacturer and a supplier of electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors and stabilized cameras to the U.S. military and homeland security agencies. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems will pay $54 per share for Axsys’ outstanding common stock.

According to a General Dynamics spokeswoman, Axsys supplies electro-optical cameras, infared sensors, and multi-axis stabilized sensors for the following U.S. military systems:


Remotely operated weapons stations: Axsys’ infrared lenses are used in the U.S. Army’s Protector remotely operated weapons stations (RWS), allowing soldiers inside to find and fire at targets while remaining inside their vehicle. Read “CROWS = Videogame + Vehicle + Real Guns” and “GM GDLS to Support US Remote Weapon Stations in Theater” for more.

The Tactical Satellite-3: TacSat-3 was developed to address the U.S. military’s need for a responsive and flexible space-based surveillance system. Axsys manufactures the telescope assembly for the satellite’s hyperspectral imaging sensor.

RQ-4 Global Hawk HALE UAV: Axsys makes beryllium imaging optics and optical structures for the surveillance telescope in the RQ-4 Global Hawk’s integrated sensor suite. These optics were part of a performance upgrade. Global Hawk provides high-resolution reconnaissance imagery from 60,000 feet.

Thermal Weapons Sight Program: Axsys is the primary supplier of infrared lenses used in the U.S. Army’s thermal weapons sight (TWS). Read “PAS-13 Thermal Weapon Sights On Order” for more details.

Axsys Technologies employs approximately 1,000 workers. It is based in Rocky Hill, CT and has facilities in Alabama, California, Michigan and New Hampshire. The company had a backlog of $162.1 million as of March 28/09, and anticipates 2009 sales of $280 million. General Dynamics/Axsys Technologies press release



www.defenseindustrydaily.com/crows-videogame-vehicle-real-guns-03651/

CROWS = Videogame + Vehicle + Real Guns
07-Sep-2009 16:52 EDT

CROWS in Iraq
Most military vehicles can mount some sort of weapon, and even small protected vehicles like up-armored Hummers have top mounts. Manning them can be hazardous, however, as the story behind the Chavis Turret illustrates. Gunners are especially exposed to enemy sniper fire and counter-fire in urban environments, which figure prominently in current and expected war scenarios.

In response, larger armored vehicles have begun using Remote Weapon Systems (RWS), consisting of a gun and sensors that sit on top of the vehicle. These systems are controlled from inside via joystick and screen, and all ammunition, sensors, etc. are part of the topside assembly. The USA’s Common Remotely-Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) brings those capabilities to smaller vehicles, like up-armored Hummers or blast-resistant MRAPs. CROWS orders had traditionally been filled by Recon/Optical Inc., but a major “CROWS-II” framework agreement with Kongsberg in 2007 changed that landscape. Recent developments include a major delivery order…

The CROWS System
Contracts & Key Events [updated]
Additional Readings
The CROWS System


R/O’s CROWSThis RWS approach does reduce situational awareness in many instances, thanks to a narrower field of view and fewer audio cues. In exchange, however, RWS systems offer full in-hull protection for the crew, much better fire-on-the-move capability, and the ability to use the RWS’ advanced sensors in night or obscurement scenarios. RWS have become extremely popular in recent years; major competitors in this space now include BAE (LEMUR), Elbit Systems (ORCWS), Kongsberg (Protector), RAFAEL (RCWS and Samson families), Recon Optical (Raven), and Thales (SWARM).

CROWS is versatile and modular. It can mount weapons such as the M2 HB .50-cal Machine Gun, Mk19 40-mm Automatic Grenade Machine Gun, M240B 7.62-mm MG(Machine Gun) and M249 5.56-mm Squad Automatic Weapon. The system’s sensor unit includes a daylight video camera with digital video processing capabilities, a thermal imager for night operations, and an eyesafe laser rangefinder. It is furnished with a fully integrated fire control system that provides ballistic correction, and offers a 2-axis stabilized (azimuth and elevation) gunner-operated weapon system, that corrects for vehicle movement. The Recon/Optical mount is capable of continuous 360 degree azimuth rotation and -20 to +60 degree elevation; the Kongsberg mount shares these abilities, with a maximum slew rate of 100 degrees/second and a topside weight under 350 pounds.

The system’s control group, which mounts inside the vehicle, is the gunner interface allowing operation within the vehicle’s protective shell. Its main components include a display unit, Switch Panel Unit (SPU), and hand controller (joystick). The control group provides full remote control of the weapon system via on-screen menus presented on the display, and by the switches on the SPU and joystick.


The CROWS system has received excellent reviews from US troops in Iraq – and if this sounds like a video-game to you, you’re in good company.

As “CROWS: Public Videogame Turns Into Weapon Trainer” noted in May 2006, the US Army worked with game developers to put a CROWS module and mission sets into the new version of the hit Pentagon-sponsored videogame/ recruiting tool/ preparation tool “America’s Army.” That would certainly cut the time required to train new recruits. Indeed, the additional levels of proficiency possible through such approaches will act as another incentive for countries to equip their vehicles with RWS systems, instead of traditional gunner mounts.

In the US military, CROWS systems currently equip the M1114 up-armored HMMWVs (Armored Scouts/Military Police), and M1116 up-armored HMMWVs (U.S. Air Force); the M93A1P1 nuclear, biological, chemical reconnaissance vehicle, scout vehicle; and some of Textron’s M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicles (Military Police), which also have their own armored turrets.