Afghan experience feeds Lemur growth paths

The Royal Danish Army is expected to order additional quantities of the BAE Systems Bofors Lemur W remote weapon station (RWS), an initial batch having been adopted in response to an urgent operational requirement for service in Afghanistan.

Originally the Royal Danish Army's Piranha III 8x8 infantry carriers, deployed to Afghanistan since 2004, were armed with a Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Type 1530 external weapon mount incorporating a 12.7 mm machine gun (MG).

It was found that a more capable remotely operated weapon station was needed, possessing day and night operating capabilities (including a colour monitor for positive target identification) with stabilisation for both the weapon and its sight, which would allow reconnaissance on the move. The user's objective was to be able to hit a van at 1,000 m (or a standing man at 500 m) with no more than three bursts each of 2-3 rounds. It was also desirable to be able to swap armament solutions between 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm MGs, or a 40 automatic grenade-launcher.

In response to this requirement, the Royal Danish Army evaluated three different RWS solutions, including the Kongsberg Protector, Rafael RCWS, and BAE Systems Bofors Lemur. The Rafael mount was eliminated prior to a shoot-off between Lemur and Protector. An order was subsequently placed with BAE Systems Bofors for 134 Lemur Ws, the first delivery being made in June 2007 and the first Piranha IIIs so fitted being deployed to theatre in February 2008.

Image: A Royal Danish Army Wisent Leopard 1 armoured recovery vehicle fitted with a Lemur W remote weapon station incorporating a 12.7 mm MG. Versions with greater penetration and longer-range sighting systems are now being evaluated. (BAE Systems) 241 of 945 words