Protector M151

Protector M151 with MG M2 on an M1126 Stryker armored car

The Protector M151 RWS is a remote control weapon station ( remote weapon station ) that can be installed on vehicles or fixed platforms. The manufacturer is the Norwegian Kongsberg Group , formerly Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace in Kongsberg .

The Protector is the main armament of the US Army's Stryker units .

technical description

The system consists of a stabilized weapon platform, a fire control system and the controls. Different weapons can be mounted on the platform, such as:

• M2 , heavy machine gun in .50 BMG caliber
• M240 / MAG-58 , machine gun with a caliber of 7.62 × 51 mm
• M249 or FN Minimi , light machine gun in caliber 5.56 × 45 mm
• 40 mm machine grenade launcher Mk 19
• HK GMW , 40mm machine grenade launcher
• XM307 , 25mm machine grenade launcher
• Javelin , anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)
• Hellfire , ATGM (with modified protector)

Versions

M151 versions

• Protector M151 - delivered with the first Stryker armored vehicles
• M151 E1 (Block 1) - improved thermal imaging cameras
• M151 E2 (Block 2) - stabilized version
• specific adjustments for various user nations

Other variants

• Protector Super Lite
• Protector Lite
• Protector CROWS II , further development of the M151
• Sea Protector - for mounting on ships
• Protector NM221 - with internal ammunition feed

User countries

Protector M151 on Stryker armored vehicles

The Protector is widely used internationally beyond its country of origin, Norway.

Current users:
(in alphabetical order)

•  Australia - ASLAV PC , armored car
•  Canada - RG-31 , armored transport vehicle
•  Czech Republic - LMV
•  Finland - Patria AMV , armored car
•  Ireland - Piranha III, infantry fighting vehicle
•  Luxembourg - Dingo 2 , transport vehicle
•  Netherlands - boxer
•  Norway - M113 , armored transport, Tactica (Protector NM221), Iveco LMV (Protector Lite), Fridtjof Nansen class frigates (Sea Protector)
•  Portugal - Pandur II , 8 × 8 armored vehicles
•  Switzerland - Piranha I armored personnel carrier , Mowag Duro IIIP and patrol boat 16
•  United Kingdom - On Bulldog and Mastiff in Iraq and Afghanistan
•  United States - Stryker Armored Vehicle and M1A2 Abrams , as well as numerous other vehicles

In planning:

•  France : On May 2nd, 2008, an eight-year contract was signed for the delivery of Protector for use on Renault VAB .
•  Slovenia : Patria AMV On January 9, 2009 an order for NOK 100 million for the period 2009-2011 was placed.
•  Croatia : Patria AMV , Iveco LMV M-95
•  Sweden : Sisu Pasi , ARCHER artillery system , RG 32

Image gallery

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  Internal control for Protector M151 Remote Weapon Station in Stryker ICV

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  Remote Weapon Station on Stryker ICV

• 

  Stryker ICV on patrol in Iraq

Individual evidence

1. ^ Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace ( Memento from February 11, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
2. ↑ The Stryker Remote Weapon System ( Memento from July 8, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
3. ↑ Soldier Feedback Advances Remote Weapon Stations  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )
4. ↑ XM307 Weapons System (PDF; 1.2 MB)
5. ↑ Et Fremdtidsrettet prosjekt ( memento from April 20, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) (Norwegian)
6. ^ Weapon Control Systems framework agreement with France ( Memento of May 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) - Kongsberg Gruppen press release, May 2, 2008
7. ↑ Contract for weapon control systems to Slovenia valued at MNOK 100 ( Memento from June 27, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) on Kongsberg.com