Recently procured Protected Weapons Stations for the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles will provide an additional capability to the Overwatch Battlegroup West and the deployment of the Reconstruction Taskforce in the Middle East

Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and industry continue to deliver good results through rapid acquisitions- supplying 44 Protected Weapons Stations (PWS) in quick time to support operational requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Government endorsed the rapid acquisition of the PWS in July 2006 and within seven months a team began installing the stations into Australia’s Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles deployed in Iraq.

In order to meet the tight timeframes and unique challenges such as installing the weapons stations in-theatre, Project Bushranger adopted a team-based streamlined approach to get the capability from industry to the front line.

DMO Bushranger Program Manager, Jon Hill, said a specialised team led by Major Dave Benson and team coordinator, Warrant Officer Class 2, Tony White, was established to manage the in theatre weapons system installation and the training of our front line troops.

‘We are conducting five day courses for PWS operators and maintainers. We are also running a two day familiarisation course for vehicle operators. In March 2007 our team redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan to deliver and fit the remainder of the systems,’ Mr Hill said.

‘The acquisition and installation enhances the Bushmaster’s ability to operate in dangerous environments. It increases the vehicle’s surveillance capability and enables the crew to observe and fire the MAG 58 machine gun from within the vehicle.  

‘The PWS, also known as, Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Stations (CROWS) provides an additional capability to the Overwatch Battlegroup West and the deployment of the Reconstruction Taskforce in the Middle East,’ Mr Hill said.

The highly technical protection system incorporates a colour day camera with a cooled thermal imaging camera to enable 24-hour all weather operations. It comes equipped with a laser range finder, is fully stabilised and is fitted with a 7.62mm MAG 58 machine gun.

Mr Hill said working on a project of this type really drives home the level of support DMO provides to our soldiers on the front line. It also highlighted to us how quickly and efficiently DMO and industry can work together to deliver a successful outcome.

‘Feedback from the soldiers to date has been extremely positive, Major Benson reports that soldiers are very happy with the performance of the system,’ Mr Hill said.

The PWS is produced by an Australian company, Electro Optic Systems, with up to 50 per cent of the components produced in Queanbeyan, New South Wales , under a technology sharing arrangement with the United States (US). The US Army also operates CROWS.

For more information about the Bushranger project contact Mr Jon Hill on 03 9282 3940 or email jon.hill@defence.gov.au.

“This project highlighted to us how quickly and efficiently DMO and industry can work together to deliver a successful outcome.”