Rheinmetall Unveils Remote Operated Natter Weapon System

Rheinmetall has unveiled its new Remote controlled Natter(adder) weapons system at the Eurosatory defence exhibition.

At Eurosatory 2022 Rheinmetall presented the Natter 7.62 for light and medium machineguns (5.56mm x 45 or 7.62mm x 51) as well as the Natter 12.7 for .50 calibre heavy machineguns and 40mm automatic grenade launchers. A third variant, the Natter 30, can be fitted with medium-calibre automatic cannon of various calibres.

In all versions of the system, the mounts are manufactured out of carbon in an attempt to reduce weight and vibration, while the resulting in a substantially smaller signature.

Incorporating day-and-night (IR) sensor technology, its integrated vision system, FlexEyeR, enables simultaneous, all-weather depiction of multiple targets. Advanced image processing algorithms compensate for movements of the barrel axis and thus allow for coaxial mounting on a 2-axis stabilized platform. All fire control-relevant data are processed in real time, giving the system mission-critical precision. Moreover, a powerful tracker enables both manual and automatic target tracking.

The system incorporates standard interfaces (e.g., NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture, NGVA) facilitates system integration into an extremely wide variety of vehicles. Additional operator consoles can also be integrated. Furthermore, the Natter meets the international safety standards set out in IEC 61508.