Expansion, investment and technology innovation are the key focus at the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. for Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace in Norway, as it continues to serve American customers and lead the world in next-gen, digital networked warfare.
Kongsberg’s technological innovation will be demonstrated live throughout AUSA with the company’s Integrated Combat Solutions (ICS) linking a target sharing network across multiple platforms in various partner booths on both levels of Washington Convention Center. ICS is a core enabler of modern warfare, providing all-domain visibility, command and control. This force multiplier streamlines complicated targeting cycles, networking mobility platforms and other assets for increased situational awareness and combat capability, achieved through lethality enhancements, C5I systems integration and inter-vehicle communication. The open and scalable software solution is platform agnostic, as demonstrated throughout the AUSA show floor.
Kongsberg’s ICS is also at the core of the Typhon C-UAS solution delivered to Ukraine earlier this year. The fielded system continues to see operational success in Ukraine with its ability to network multiple RWS and sensors using ICS to allow small units to conduct area C-UAS using readily available weapons and munitions to fire on a single drone for a highly successful and low-cost kinetic solution.
As global interest in counter-drone capabilities continue to escalate, Kongsberg will leverage the Typhon network to develop solutions for different C-UAS problem sets, to include a CROWS C-UAS Kit that could retrofit the thousands of Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) already fielded to the U.S. Army on Abrams and Stryker and to support light infantry with existing weapons and munitions such as .50 caliber machine guns or 70mm rockets deployed as APKWS.
Kongsberg also produces the Remote Weapon System for the U.S. Marine Corps Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), which integrates medium caliber cannons and missiles to provide short-range air defense. This critical system is under contract and moving into full-rate production. Kongsberg has long been the sole provider of remote weapon stations to the U.S. Army, and now the Marine Corps is standardizing on Kongsberg lethality solutions – both hardware and software – specifying Kongsberg remote turrets and weapon stations as well through its MADIS, ACV-P, ACV-30 and ARV programs.
The U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle 30mm program (ACV-30) incorporates a medium caliber turret from Kongsberg. The system continues to undergo government testing. Production capacity will be augmented by a recently announced expansion in the company’s Pennsylvania facility.
Two Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) prototypes will also be on display in the BAE Systems booth. One is equipped with the same Kongsberg 30mm turret as the ACV-30, which could bring significant benefits to the Army and FMS partners in terms of capability, lethality and commonality in terms of training, networked combat CONOPS and sustainment. The AMPV Modular Turreted Mortar System (MTMS), which just completed U.S. Army evaluations at the Yuma Test Center and a successful demonstration at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference will also be displayed. This second prototype integrates the AMPV and common top plate with the Patria/Kongsberg NEMO remote-controlled 120mm turreted mortar system.
Kongsberg is the world leader in remote weapon system production and has served the U.S. Department of Defense for more than 20 years, providing critical remote weapon systems and turrets for land, maritime and air defense programs. All RWS and remote turrets delivered to U.S. customers are manufactured in the Kongsberg Johnstown, Penn. facility and leverage an extensive American supply base. Delivery programs include the MADIS RWS to the U.S. Marine Corps and the CROWS to the U.S. Army. Other deliveries include Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps and the NASAMS air defense system for protecting the White House and the National Capital Region. The top provider to the U.S., Kongsberg delivers unsurpassed quantities with increased capacity, having recently announced expansion at its Pennsylvania facility and the establishment of a new missiles production facility in Virginia.