Australian Military Vehicles to get 251 new Remote Weapon Stations

The Australian government will acquire 251 Remote Weapon Stations (RWS) to be equipped on the Army’s Bushmaster and Hawkei protected mobility vehicles.

The order was placed with Australia’s Electro Optic Systems (EOS) company that offers R150, R400S-Mk2, R400S-Mk2 Dual, R600 and T2000 remote weapon systems.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday that the new weapons were part of the $270 billion capability upgrade for the Australian Defense Force (ADF), under the new 2020 Force Structure Plan. “We must have a robust and resilient defense industry that maximises opportunities for small businesses and supports Australian jobs and local investment,” the Prime Minister said.

Minister for Defense Industry Melissa Price said the investment in new remote weapon stations would provide job stability for over 200 of Electro Optic Systems’ workforce directly involved in engineering and support. “This investment not only secures local jobs but it also provides certainty for over 100 supply chain businesses across Australia. More than 80% of the parts that EOS use for these weapons are sourced through the Australian supply chain," Minister Price said.