Germany has awarded Kongsberg a $27.2 million (250 MNOK) contract to supply a Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) to its armed forces.
“Kongsberg has entered into a contract with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment (BAAINBw) to deliver a C-UAS based on the PROTECTOR Remote Weapon Station. The contract worth 250 MNOK was won in an international bidding process,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.
Germany is the first country to acquire a C-UAS solution with the PROTECTOR as a kinetic effector. The emergence of inexpensive, small unmanned aerial systems (UAS), also referred to as drones, poses a relatively new threat to both military units as well as civilian infrastructure and events, such as airports, government buildings, power plants, political gatherings and sporting events. The PROTECTOR RWS C-UAS has a rapid deployment and reaction time, and is highly mobile.
For Germany’s PROTECTOR RWS C-UAS project, KONGSBERG has cooperated closely with Hensoldt and is integrating the Hensoldt Spexer 3rd generation radar for UAS detection and tracking. The solution utilizes a 40 mm Automatic Grenade launcher with airburst ammunition, – but the PROTECTOR RWS has a variety of weapon integrations up to 30 mm and air defence missiles that can be employed against UAS.
“KONGSBERG is very proud to win this first C-UAS competition, and we look forward to a long-term close cooperation with the German Army,” says Pål E. Bratlie, Executive Vice President Protech Systems, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS.
