BAE Systems will develop an interim all-quadrant defensive weapon system for the U.S. Air Force’s CV-22 Osprey special-operations aircraft, our sister publication Defense Daily reports..
The $491,000 contract awarded in January by the U.S. Special Operations Command calls for rapid development, installation, testing, and qualification of a weapon capability that provides defensive fire protection to all quadrants of the aircraft.
The contract has a potential value of $16.3 million, according to BAE.
The belly-mounted system (shown at right, bottom) is designed to be remotely operated, BAE said, and capable of delivering accurate, sustained fire throughout the CV-22’s flight envelope.
The weapon system is based on the company’s Remote Guardian System, an internally-funded effort to develop a common airborne defensive capability. BAE has been investing in the Remote Guardian for more than two years.
Remote Guardian is designed to be belly mounted on the Bell Helicopter/Boeing V-22. It is a turreted weapon system that consists of a turreted sensor and turreted Gatling gun. It will be designed to use the U.S. Marine Corps’ GAU 17, a 7.62 mm mini-gun, and the Air Force Special Operations Command’s GAU 2, a 7.62 mm Gatling gun.
BAE is also looking at a.50-caliber design and more advanced sensors for Remote Guardian System.
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