The Australian government has announced the acquisition of 251 remote weapon stations for the Australian Army’s Bushmaster and Hawkei protected mobility vehicles.
Prime minister Scott Morrison said the new weapons were part of the $270 billion capability upgrade for the Australian Defence Force, under the new 2020 Force Structure Plan.
Defense industry minister Melissa Price said the investment in new remote weapon stations would provide job stability for over 200 of Electro Optic Systems’ workforce directly involved in engineering and support.
“More than 80 per cent of the parts that Electro Optic Systems (EOS) use for these weapons are sourced through the Australian supply chain and that’s good for jobs and small businesses.”
EOS is manufacturing the R400S Mk2 RWS fitted with a 30 mm cannon. The company recently tested the system’s capability to launch Javelin missiles, which it hailed a success. According to EOS, the R400S is in full-rate production and is currently in use by six allied nations.
