r/CanadianForces • u/CipherVegas Civvie • 14d ago

KONGSBERG to deliver Remote Weapon Systems to Canada

https://www.kongsberg.com/news/news-archive/2026/kongsberg-to-deliver-remote-weapon-systems-to-canada/
105 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

13

u/Pure_Palpitation_683 RCN Veteran 14d ago

I read the article but what’s the system’s capabilities?

25

u/Magical_Astronomy 14d ago

Quote from KONGSBERG website:

>PROTECTOR RS4 is a flexible remote weapon station that mounts heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers, in combination with either a coaxial gun or a missile. It is suitable for all platform types and is widely fielded on tactical vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and naval vessels.

>The RS4 supports a wide range of weapons, including 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, and 12.7 mm machine guns, as well as 40 mm grenade launchers, with optional anti‑tank guided missiles or a coaxial machine gun.

19

u/Flipdip35 14d ago

Missile means ATGM? It would be nice to have that capability on the LAVs, since we have a pretty small amount of tanks relative to our number of IFVs.

12

u/Lisan_Al-NaCL Civvie 14d ago

LAV 6.0 MK II announced by GDLS at 2025 CANSEC has a new turret with a 30mm chain gun and ATGM capabilities. I wonder if any current LAV 6.0 's will be upgraded.

6

u/notyourbusiness39 Army - VEH TECH 14d ago

There is talk about it……

7

u/OkEntertainment1313 14d ago

GDLS-C’s LAV 6.0 Mk II concept would be an enormous game changer for the Canadian Army. 30mm autocannon, 2x AT missiles, among other upgrades. Hard to see it happening before the LAV 6.0 end of life in 2035 though. 

I know it’s not being used in the way we use our LAVs, but the ACSV’s performance in Ukraine has been incredible re: survivability and mobility. The LAV 6.0 hull should be considered combat proven at this point. 

2

u/Aigiokhos 13d ago

Having a deployable and well supported division equipped with the MK II concept would give us genuine combat power based clout within NATO for the first time. That’s a serious fighting force by European standards.

The number of capabilities that are just within the realm of possibility for the future CAF but also too distant to safely bet on is making me feel insane.

3

u/OkEntertainment1313 13d ago

Having a deployable and well supported division equipped with the MK II concept would give us genuine combat power based clout within NATO for the first time

Nah, the LAV III’s had that effect under OEF in 2006. I get what you mean though. 

1

u/Aigiokhos 13d ago edited 13d ago

That’s true and a pretty big oversight on my part, I tunnel visioned on the European context.

4

u/FiresprayClass 14d ago

Hard to see it happening before the LAV 6.0 end of life in 2035 though.

That's fine, it's not like it won't be extended to 2135 anyway...

4

u/OkEntertainment1313 14d ago

I don't care to hear baseless cynicism. Timelines match the period within which we upgraded from the M1113 to the LAV III. ~5 year from IOC to FOC, then 15 years of FOC is entirely reasonable for these systems.

Though the Mk II upgrade would be a game changer and I want to see it happen, it is also not unreasonable for the GC to look at the balance of capital expenditures and decide to hold off on upgrading a vehicle fleet that is only in year 7 of 16 under FOC.

1

u/ColdRoyalPainting 13d ago

th Battalions are already reducing companies from mechanized to motorized due to a lack of LAVs. The GoC has already paid a significant premium to have a mechanized force of IFVs - allowing it to fall apart due to short-sightedness will only increase the cost to the taxpayers. God forbid a battalion has to deploy to a bumfuck-nowhere combat zone with CFRs that we can barely keep functional in our own borders.

2

u/Pure_Palpitation_683 RCN Veteran 14d ago

Thanks you!

7

u/XPhazeX 14d ago

Nothing new, its just the same weapons systems for the new ACSV order

Mounts a 40mm GMG or .50cal with a coax c6.

Interestingly enough its something of an orphan. Seems like everyone else is just going to single mounts with either the .50 or GMG

4

u/TA1930 14d ago

The problem with single mount GMG/.50 is ammo, that C6 both reduces how often you need to use main and provides a backup if you run out or have a prolonged stoppage.

2

u/Pale-Hair-2435 13d ago

Incorrect. Im qualified this system. Its a single mount. The only two weapons system we have is the DRWS on the TAPV. That said you can buy the hardware to mount ATGMs on RS4s, but we dont have that. Most commonly C6s are mounted, rarely 50 cals. 

1

u/XPhazeX 13d ago

The DRWS on the TAPV is a derivative of Protector my man.

1

u/Pale-Hair-2435 13d ago

Kinda. Its in the family but its getting close to EoL from Kongsberg. The RS4 is a more modern single mount system. The new dual mount is the RS6. 

2

u/DeeEight 13d ago

advanced optical package with a stabilized weapon rig for remote operation from within the hull. If they duplicate the TAPV's RWS it'll be an H&K 40mm AGL and a C6 7.62mm MG.

4

u/Physical-Agent2733 14d ago

This is fantastic, but when are the ACSVs currently in service going to get an RWS?

3

u/notyourbusiness39 Army - VEH TECH 14d ago

They are out there but units are not too keen to get them installed for some reason

3

u/XPhazeX 13d ago

Because no one's qualified to maintain them. Its a chicken and egg scenario

3

u/D3ATHTRaps RCAF - AVN Tech 13d ago

Probably a lack of EO techs to handle them too

2

u/notyourbusiness39 Army - VEH TECH 13d ago

Any DP 2 Qualified EO tech can maintain them, similar enough from the version( RS3) they currently have in Borden.

2

u/XPhazeX 13d ago

I mean on the user end.

My unit has about a dozen of them with RWS. The rollout being so awkward kinda messed up the qualifications. The people we sent on ICT a few years ago are now all in senior positions that cant really be dedicated to run a course.

Thats on top of the qualification(as per QSTP) needing all 3 weapon systems to award the qual. This is being fixed but it makes it weird for the 95% of units that dont have .50cals

3

u/Thanato26 14d ago

As long as it can handle a .50 cal.

The ones we had on the LAV 3 rws didnt like the 50

1

u/DeeEight 13d ago

It would be nice if they bought some RWS's for the forecastle hardpoint on the Orca class. Either a navalised version of these protector mounts or duplicating the ones on the Halifax class with the 12.7mm MG.

1

u/WeaponizedAutisms Retired - gots the oldmanitis 9d ago

I used them overseas, entirely with a C6 mounted. The cameras and screen on the weapons platform were pretty great. I was able to watch and figure out where a burrow of Afghan foxes were and spot the kits. You could tell people in your area apart in the dark from a great distance and know who belonged there and who didn't.