EOS confirms utility remote weapons station for Ukraine

Defence manufacturer Electro Optic Systems has confirmed its involvement in the US President Joe Biden’s latest assistance measures to Ukraine, with its equipment part of a system that can launch guided weapons from the tray of a utility vehicle.

An EOS gimbal mounting system is part of the Vampire counter-drone system, itself part of a $3 billion package for Ukraine that the Pentagon announced on Wednesday.

The system (pictured) is a Vehicle-Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment system.

It comes as a portable kit that can be installed on most vehicles with a cargo bed for launching the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System or other laser-guided munitions.

According to a report by defensenews.com, US undersecretary of defense for policy Colin Kahl told a press briefing on Wednesday: “The Vampire system itself is a counter-UAS system.

“It is a kinetic system that uses small missiles essentially to shoot UAVs out of the sky.”

In response EOS took to social media today to say: “Great seeing this news come out of the U.S!

“EOS Defense Systems USA Inc is a proud partner of the L3Harris Technologies Vampire kit that includes a four-pack #apkws (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) mounted with an EOS R150 gimbal.

“The kit transforms pickup trucks and other non-tactical vehicles into highly portable missile launchers.”

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System is a laser guidance system for a 70mm rocket launcher.

The  EOS R150 is a stabilised, lightweight platform for remotely mounting weapon systems on protected vehicles.

The R150 is half the weight of its larger sibling, the R400, which was developed as part of a Commonwealth Priority Industry Capability Innovation Proposal and is mounted on Australia’s Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles.

The Vampire kit can be mounted in two hours by two people using common tools, and operated by a single person, according to L3Harris.

It can be equipped with missiles to hit ground or air targets including unmanned aircraft systems.

Picture: L3Harris

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