Kongsberg Receives $22.4 Million Contract from U.S. Army for CROWS

(Source: Kongsberg Protech Systems; issued June 24, 2009)
WASHINGTON --- This week Kongsberg was awarded a contract valued at $22.4 million by the United States Army for the delivery of additional Protector Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) as part of the existing Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS II) framework agreement. Since August 2007, more than 3,800 CROWS II systems have been ordered by the U.S. Army. As a part of the Kongsberg family of Remote Weapon Stations, the Protector RWS enhances troop protection and lethality by providing Soldiers with the ability to acquire and engage targets while inside the safety of a vehicle. Designed to mount on a variety of vehicle platforms and support numerous weapon systems, the Protector RWS is among the most versatile and cutting-edge products in the Army inventory. On the Economic Report’s profile of Kongsberg, COL Douglas Tamilio, Project Manager for Soldier Weapons, said use of the CROWS II results in “a huge increase in reliability.” He added that it has “a better interface with the Soldier and overall is a much enhanced system.” The Protector RWS, with over 20 million hours of operation and more than 8 million hours of combat operation since 2001, is in service with 16 countries worldwide. With headquarters in Norway and production facilities in Johnstown, PA, Kongsberg Protech Systems is the world’s leading supplier of remote weapon stations. Kongsberg also supplies high-technology systems to customers engaged in offshore oil and gas production, the merchant marine, and the defense and aerospace industries.