$68M Provides Remotely-Operated Machineguns for Vehicles

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CROWS Recon Optical Inc. in Barrington, IL received a $68 million firm-fixed price contract for 230 common remotely operated weapon stations (CROWS). Recon Optical’s equipment lets a vehicle’s crew remotely aim and fire its weapon while remaining inside, and mounts to both HMMWV variants and the M1117 Guardian ASV. CROWS is currently deployed on the battlefields of Iraq, where it has drawn positive reviews from soldiers in the field. The CROWS system is versatile and modular, incorporating the latest technology in stabilized, remotely controlled weapon mounts, optical and thermal sensors, ballistic fire control, lasers and digital video processing capabilities… 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. CROWS is a two-axis stabilized (azimuth and elevation) gunner-operated weapon system, permitting the gunner to effectively engage targets from a moving vehicle. The mount is also capable of continuous 360 degree azimuth rotation and -20 to +60 degree elevation. The system’s sensor unit includes a daylight video camera, a thermal imager for night operations, and an eyesafe laser rangefinder, and is furnished with a fully integrated fire control system that provides ballistic correction. […]

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