Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station Explained

The Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS), also known as Katlanit (קטלנית in Hebrew: "lethal") is a remote weapon system (RWS) that enables a variety of devices to be operated automatically or by remote control, including 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, and 12.7 mm .50 BMG machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles and observation pods.^[1]

Variants

There are a total of three variants of the Samson family:

• Samson Jr. ROWS - for 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, weighing 60-.
• Mini Samson ROWS - for 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm machine guns, as well as 40 mm grenade launcher, weighing 140-, similar to that of Mini Typhoon naval ROWS and OWS.
• Standard Samson - for guns with calibre ranging from 20mm40mm, weighing 1.5tonne, similar to that of standard Typhoon naval ROWS and OWS.

For example, the Samson Remote Controlled Weapon System for 30 mm autocannon is designed to be mounted on lightly-armoured, high-mobility military vehicles and operated by a gunner or vehicle commander operating under-the-deck. It offers optional SPIKE guided missile, smoke grenade launcher, and embedded trainer. The RCWS 30 is a product of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.^[2]

Israel has also installed a variant of the Samson RCWS in pillboxes along the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier.^[3]

The Sentry Tech system, dubbed Roeh-Yoreh (Sees-Fires) in IDF service deployed on the Gaza fence, enables camera operators located in a rear-located intelligence base to engage border threats using the 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and the SPIKE guided missile. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed with the Sentry Tech system. The first reported death of an individual appears to have taken place during Operation Cast Lead in December 2008.^[4]

Operators

Current operators

• :
• :
• : LAV III^[5]
• : 4 stations initially procured for needs of Croatian Army, installed and tested on M84D and M95 tanks, but eventually Croatian Army opted for Protector RWS, 12.7 mm and 30 mm.
• : Pandur II^[6]
• : IDF Namer, some IDF Achzarit, some HMMWV
• : Infantry Carrier Vehicle Dragoon^[7]
• : RG-31 Nyala
• : Otokar Cobra
• : Hunter AFV^[8]
• : Hyundai Wia
• : Alvis Stormer
• : 88 German Boxer Infantry Fighting Vehicles with Rafael's weapon stations with 30 mm cannons and "Spike LR" antitank missiles^[9]

See also

• Sentry gun

Notes and References

1. http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/area.aspx?FolderID=402&docID=990 Rafael Armament Development Authority
2. Web site: RAFAEL marketing PDF for RCWS 30 . 2007-06-05 . 2015-09-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924084513/http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/SIP_STORAGE/FILES/8/628.pdf .
3. Web site: Weaponized Sentry-Tech Towers Protecting Hot Borders . Aviation Week . https://web.archive.org/web/20110429010118/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogscript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A344244b3-3fee-4dfc-be03-992bf38a6f19 . April 29, 2011.
4. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/JlLawInfoSci/2012/3.html "Lethal Robotic Technologies: The Implications for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law"
5. http://www.armyrecognition.com/december_2012_new_army_military_defence_industry/army_colombia_has_selected_lav_iii_8x8_armoured_vehicle_for_its_mechanized_infantry_units_2912123.html Samson RWS on Colombian LAV III
6. Web site: Czech APCs to Carry RAFAEL's RCWS-30. 2006-02-07. Defense Industry Daily. 7 September 2011.
7. Web site: Peck . Michael . How the US Army botched a $1 billion upgrade of the Stryker armored vehicle's gun . 2024-04-21 . Business Insider . en-US.
8. Web site: Singapore Army commissions Hunter AFV Shephard . 2024-04-21 . www.shephardmedia.com . en.
9. Web site: Lithuania to Purchase 88 IFVs with Rafael-made Weapon Stations. 22 August 2016.