Elbit Wins $173M Asian Order for Naval Remote Weapon Stations, Possibly India

Elbit Systems has won a $173 million contract to provide Naval Remote Controlled Weapon Stations (RCWS) to the Navy and Coast Guard of an Asia-Pacific country, most probably India.

The contract will be performed over a five-year period, the company said in a statement Thursday without specifying the customer.

Under the contract, Elbit Systems will provide lightweight, fully stabilized dual-axis naval RCWS to be installed onboard a wide range of vessels.

The Naval RCWS to be provided feature a 12.7mm machine gun and ammunition, Elbit Systems' advanced fire control system and the company's modular electro-optic suite.

The RCWS family is a third-generation, multi-purpose weapon system for small and mid-caliber weapons. With modular, dual-weapon capabilities, the RCWS is designed for dynamic or static operation, to be used on ground stationary, ground mobile or naval platforms. 

India has been negotiating to buy 747 12.7 mm RCWS from Elbit Systems since 2016. The deal includes importing 136 RWSs with electro-optic modules off the shelf and the remaining 611 systems in kit form for assembly by the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) unit at Tiruchirappalli, southern India. Ammunition for the 12.7 mm RWSs would be manufactured at the OFB plant in Kolkata.