Allen Control Systems to supply Bullfrog weapon systems to South Korea, UAE

An image of an Allen Control Systems' Bullfrog M240 automated remote weapon station undergoing trials at an undisclosed location. (Allen Control Systems)

US-based Allen Control Systems announced on 5 November that it has signed a contract with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces for an undisclosed number of Bullfrog autonomous remote weapon stations (RWSs).

The contract includes support for operator training, technical assistance, and maintenance.

According to Allen Control Systems, Bullfrog comes in four variants: the M240 configuration with a 7.62 mm machine gun (MG), the M2 variant with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun (HMG), the M230 variant with a 30 mm automatic cannon, and the M134 variant with a 7.62 mm six‐barrelled Gatling‐type gun.

Sensors are mounted underneath the weapon except in the M134 variant where the vision system is mounted above the main armament. In the M240, M2, and M230 variants, the ammunition box is mounted on the left-hand side of the main weapon.

Bullfrog weapon stations can engage group 1–3 unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), according to the company.

The Bullfrog weapon station has a pointing accuracy of <1 minute of angle (MOA). The M230, M2, M240, and M134 variants have cyclic rates of fire of 200 rds/min, 600 rds/min, 850 rds/min, and between 2,000 and 6,000 rds/min respectively, according to Allen Control Systems.

The weapon stations are capable of detecting, tracking, identifying, and engaging targets. While the system is fully autonomous, a human remains on the loop. The system can be operated from within the vehicle or remotely using a control panel console.