At the latest defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) IDEX 2011, the Belgian Defence Company FN Herstal which manufactures a full range of small weapons unveils a new family of weapon stations. Taking advantage of its long-standing firearms expertise, FN Herstal designed and developed a complete family of remote weapon stations called deFNder™. The deFNder™ Medium is capable of fullfilling a wide range of missions such as, self-defense, infantry fire support and combat missions - also in urban environment - when mounted onto light, medium or heavy vehicles, surveillance and observation, escort, checkpoint, perimeter defense and more.
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Design |
The deFNder™ Medium is the medium weight remote weapon station of FN ROWS family. It can integrate all FN Herstal machine guns up to .50 caliber, including the exclusive M3 machine gun, and is capable of extended elevation operation angles. The deFNder™ Remote Weapon Stations provide optimized remote firing capability while keeping the operator completely under armor protection in order to meet today's operational requirements. The deFNder™ Medium has be designed with a low silhouette "above deck", less than 640 mm high, with a total weight less than 120 kg without weapon and ammunition. The deFNder™ Medium weapon station is also designed with soft recoil mount and universal cradle which increases hit probability and can be configured for a variety of weapons including the MINIMI 5.56 (M249), MINIMI 7.62 (MK48), MAG (M240), M2HB, M2HB-QCB, M3P machine gun and 40mm AGL Automatic Grenade Launcher. The soft recoil cradle is optimized for firing performance and reduced level of shocks and vibrations.
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Combat use |
The deFNder™ Medium has been designed to fulfill the force protection mission through fire support and self-defense when mounted onto light, medium and heavy vehicles. The deFNder™ Medium provides the best ratio depression/elevation range [-42°; +73°] (depending on weapon type) versus height (633mm). The deFNder™ Medium is the only remote weapon station capable of integrating the exclusive FN Herstal M3P machine gun, which has a unique firing rate of 1,100 rounds per minute. To control the deFNder™ Medium weapon station, there is an operator console and control handle. Fire control and weapon management functions include single shot and adjustable length burst options, fired round counter and end-of-belt cut-off. The operator interface features a display console for target identification and engagement at 8,500m; 3,400m and 1,750m, along with a single handle that controls sight selection, aiming and firing.
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Accessories |
The standard version of deFNder™ Medium weapon station is equipped with and IR thermal uncooled camera which can be used for day and night combat operations, mounted at the right side. One ammunition box is mounted at the left side with a capacity of 200 rounds of .50 calibre. In option the deFNder™ Medium weapon station can be equipped with a full range of accessories as: - IR thermal cooled cameras - LRF + ballistic computer - Two-axis gyroscopic stabilization - Add-on modular balistic protection (STANAG 4569 Level 1 or level 2) - Higher ammunition box capacity up to 500 rounds of .50 cal - Smoke grenade launcher kits - Interface with various sensors (e.g. SADLS, LWR) - Weapon protective cover - Target tracking and autoscan
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Specifications |
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Weapons integration
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MINIMI 5.56 (M249), MINIMI 7.62 (MK48), MAG (M240), M2HB, M2HB-QCB, M3P and 40mm AGL on a universal cradle
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Traverse angle
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Nx 360°
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Traverse speed
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90° /sec max.
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Above deck height
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Less than 640 mm
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Soft recoil cradle
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Optimized firing performance and reduced level of shocks and vibrations a
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Elevation angle
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-40° + 70° depending on weapon type
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Elevation Speed
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60°/sec max.
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Above deck weight
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Less than 120 kg, excluding weapon and ammunition
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