EOS to supply remote weapon station for Australia's Redback IFVs

EOS will supply an enhanced version of its R400 remote weapon station for the Redback IFVs that Hanwha Defence Australia will deliver to the Australian Army. (Hanwha Defence Australia)

Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) has awarded a contract worth AUD108 million (USD71.4 million) to Canberra-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) to acquire a remote weapon station (RWS) for the Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) that will be supplied to the Australian Army.

HDA is scheduled to deliver 129 Redbacks to the Australian Army under the Department of Defence's (DoD's) Land 400 Phase 3 programme worth AUD7 billion.

EOS announced on 6 October that it will deliver an enhanced version of its R400 RWS for the Redbacks.

According to EOS, the R400 RWS weighs less than 400 kg and provides up to 30 mm firepower. It can feature a 3-axis or 4-axis sensor unit. The sensor unit has a day camera and a thermal imager. The day camera has a detection range, a recognition range, and an identification range of more than 12,000 m, 5,600 m, and 4,700 m respectively. The thermal camera has a detection range, a recognition range, and an identification range of more than 13,700 m, 5,100 m, and 4,000 m respectively.

EOS has previously provided the R400 RWS for the Australian Army's Bushmaster 4×4 protected mobility vehicles and the R400S-Mk2 RWS for the service's Boxer 8×8 armoured fighting vehicles.

The enhanced R400 RWS for the Redbacks will be manufactured at an EOS facility in Canberra, the company said.

EOS had not responded to Janes request for more information at the time of publication.