[Indo Defense 2018] Hands on with Rheinmetall Canada's Field Ranger RCWS System

by Miles

Published: December 4th, 2018

indo defense 2018 hands on with rheinmetall canada s field ranger rcws system

The Canadian-based division of Rheinmetall was present at the show with the latest variant of their Field Ranger RCWS system that is designed to accommodate 7.62x51mm FN MAG/.50 BMG M2/ and 40x53mm Mark 19 grenade launchers and machine guns. On display was the “Multi” system, but there are also “Light” versions (7.62x51mm only), “Dual” (designed to take both a GPMG and a Heavy MG), and the “20” designed for a 20mm cannon. Not on display was the “Rapid Obscuring System” (ROSY) which consists of a smoke grenade discharging system mounted below the weapon system. The system has been purchased and has been in active service for around two years with Rheinmetall clients around the world.

In the video below, a representative from Rheinmetall shows how to use the joystick and control system for the Field Ranger while on the show floor. The company has made the system intuitive enough so that a user simply has to lase a target with the built-in rangefinder, and then the system will automatically compensate for the trajectory and point of aim. This way a user doesn’t have to be as concerned with adjusting for range and instead simply adjusts for shot impacts around a target.

If in an emergency the system has to be manually operated, it is as simple as detaching a cable and then popping the "hood" over the machine gun in order to "free-gun" the mount and use it manually. -Miles V, Indo Defense 2018.

The ammunition case has different slots on the sides for different calibers of ammunition, from 7.62x51mm NATO to 40x53mm grenades. Simply take out or insert a panel for a snug fit in the ammunition box -Miles V, Indo Defense 2018.

Of course, the feed chutes have to be changed out for different types of ammunition as well-Miles V, Indo Defense 2018.

One point that I noticed on the Field Ranger was that the optics didn't have either an anti-glare honeycomb but also one that could serve as some protection against the elements as the vehicle moves through inclement weather -Miles V, Indo Defense 2018.

#Rheinmetall #Turret #RCWS #INDODefense2018

Miles

Infantry Marine, based in the Midwest. Specifically interested in small arms history, development, and usage within the MENA region and Central Asia. To that end, I run Silah Report, a website dedicated to analyzing small arms history and news out of MENA and Central Asia.Please feel free to get in touch with me about something I can add to a post, an error I've made, or if you just want to talk guns. I can be reached at miles@tfb.tv

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GaryOlson on Dec 04, 2018

I want to see the joystick operator operate with winter gloves on. I expect the operator would be going manual in just a few minutes.

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- BBMW on Dec 05, 2018
  
  @GaryOlson The control panel is down in the climate controlled cab/hull of whatever vehicle this is mounted on. The crew likely doesn't need to have gloves on down there.
  The US Army as a system like this called CROWS, it's been used extensively in A'stan and Iraq. From what I've heard, they're happy with it. It's better than having gunners getting picked off while exposed up int he gun mount on a Humvee.
  
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Noob on Dec 05, 2018

The hood affixed over the .50's action looks a little like it was styled after the helmet of maximilian armour. or the front fairingof a sportsbike. or maybe something out of Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040.
Is the hood functional or purely decorative?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

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[Indo Defense 2018] Hands on with Rheinmetall Canada's Field Ranger RCWS System

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