Belgium's CMI Defence expects to complete the first example of its latest Cockerill Protected Weapon Station Generation 2 (CPWS Gen 2) in the last quarter of 2019.
Export marketing for the system has begun and a full-scale mock-up was recently shown fitted to the latest Indonesian PT Pindad Komodo 4×4 armoured personnel carrier (APC).
CPWS Gen 2 will have a turret structure of all-welded ballistic aluminium armour with a single piece hatch cover that can be raised into a number of positions depending on the operation environment. These are fully closed, removed when carrying out Operations Other Than War (OOTW), partly raised for observation through 360°, and fully open to enable the gunner to rapidly exit the vehicle.
The CPWS Gen 2's mantlet was designed to be fitted with weapons ranging from a stabilised 12.7 mm machine gun (MG) up to 25 mm or 30 mm cannon, with the latter having up to 155 rounds of ready-use ammunition.
A 7.62 mm MG can be mounted co-axially and banks of two or four electrically operated smoke grenade launchers can be mounted either side of the turret.
As an option, a pod of two anti-tank guided weapons (ATGWs) can be installed on the right side of the turret to enable main battle tanks (MBTs) and other targets to be engaged beyond the main armament's range. Traverse is all electric through 360°, with weapon elevation from -10° to 60°.
The system has flexibility in regard to sighting systems, which can include day/thermal sights incorporating laser rangefinder or a panoramic sighting system.
With normal protected weapon stations, the operator is generally still vulnerable when aiming the weapons or when carrying out reloading operations. In the CPWS Gen 2, however, the gunner could be fully protected when carrying out these functions.
(Jane's)