Page 33 - Signal Winter 2018

| MOWAG MID-LIFE UPGRADE |
Upgraded MOWAG with Kongsberg Dual Remote Weapon Station (DRWS)
a car to leave Ireland by both 1 MIC and supporting units such as Defence Forces Vehicle Base Workshops in the DFTC, CIS technical stores and workshops DFTC, and Ordnance Group DFTC. In some instances, this preparation phase involved the rotation of an active service vehicle from one of the two theatres overseas. When initial preparation is completed the vehicles are moved by land and sea to the GDELs plant in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. On reaching the factory a full mechanical and technical breakdown of the vehicle begins and then the full refurbishment process commences. On completion of the build process the vehicles are put through factory acceptance testing (FATs) which involves key technical personnel and end users from the DF and Department of Defence personnel travelling to GDELs to actively test and inspect the completed batches of refurbished APCs before they are accepted for shipment and active service. On completion, batches are shipped back to Ireland where follow up domestic upgrades such as battery upgrades and communications fit outs are completed. The vehicles are then posted back to 1 MIC for inclusion in the domestic operational and training fleet to which currently there are ten vehicles in active rotation, the next batch of ten are planned to be location by November/December 2018.
Scope of Work
Within the upgrade the APCs have received force projection upgrades such as blast attenuation seats in both the crew and dismount compartments, fitment of ballistic floor blankets, the fitment of a textile based add on armour system and the inclusion of an internal fire suppression system. From the point of view of an increased ISTAR capability the vehicles have been
upgraded with an LSAS or local situational awareness system which comprises of several high quality thermal and day/night capable cameras positioned around the vehicle which now give both a short range surveillance capability to the vehicle and its crew and commanders as well as a newly formed video based driving capability for crewmen to operate whilst in the hatch down configuration in both day and night settings. This system also works in tandem with the newly developed weapon station. From the point of view of fire power and weapon systems upgrades the vehicles has been fitted with the Protector 2 Dual Remote Weapons Station or DRWS, which has now become the new designation for the vehicle.
This weapon system, supplied by Kongsberg in Norway, is an upgrade from what has been fielded by the Cavalry CRV fleet previously and now allows for two mixed calibre weapons to be deployed on one station, in our case either a 12.7mm Heavy Machine gun coming with a 7.62mm Co Axial mounted GPMG or a H&K Grenade Machine Gun with the same Co axial based GPMG. This system will also deploy 66mm Smoke grenades, has an increased ammunition capacity from previous models, has laser designation capabilities and has increased surveillance and scanning options for the gunner.
The vehicles have also had a considerable upgrade to the dismount compartment which again has been based around the increased survivability, usability and comfort of the troops who are working from the vehicles. This has included the addition of new tactical LED lighting systems, the addition of internal charging units for ruggedised lap tops, GPS/SAT Comms devices and mobile phones, as well as GFE (Government Fitted Equipment) racking solutions which now allow for the safe stowage of additional heavy weaponry and ammunition within the vehicles
40 | | WINTER ‘18 |