Defense Daily
SOCOM Signs Contract With BAE For CV-22 Gun
January 23, 2008
BAE Systems will develop an interim all-quadrant defensive weapon
system for the Air Force's CV-22 Osprey aircraft, the company
reported.
The $491,000 contract awarded earlier this month 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 is remotely operated 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 RGS for more than two years
and unveiled the system in October 2007 at the Modern Day Marine
military exposition in Quantico, Va.
RGS is designed to be belly mounted on the Bell Helicopter Textron
[TXT]-Boeing [BA] V-22. RGS is a turreted weapon system that consists
of a turreted sensor and turreted Gatling gun. RGS will use the Marine
Corps' GAU 17, 7.62 mm mini-gun and the Air Force Special Operations
Command's (AFSOC) GAU 2. BAE is also looking at a 50 caliber design
and more advanced sensors for RGS.