New Turret System Headed to Afghanistan

A technician works on the latest version of the Rheinmetall defense protected weapons system called the Nanook. Rheinmetall Defense is a company that provides the Canadian forces with a variety of systems designed to increase the operational effectiveness of Canadian Soldiers while deployed on operations. (Photographer: Canadian Forces Cpl Jasper Schwartz, National Defence Canada.)

Focus on Defense:

SAINT-JEAN-SUR-RICHELIEU, Que., Feb. 15, 2008 -- The Nanuk remote weapons station, a main defence system for medium and heavy armoured platforms used in combat, will be deployed to Afghanistan in early 2008.

Providing a stable, remotely operated vehicle turret for light armoured vehicles, the Nanuk is designed by Quebec-based Rheinmetall Canada to provide maximum protection to the operator, as well as crewmembers by allowing them to operate the weapon from within the vehicle’s cabin.

Nanuk will be a major asset for soldiers in-theatre and has advantages over other remote weapon systems currently in use in the CF.

“This system is designed to adapt to three categories of weapons, 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm (.50 calibre),” said Guy Laliberté, program manager for the Nanuk. “The crew is able to change the weapon from, for example, a C7 to a .50 cal in a matter of seconds.”

Mr. Laliberté added that he does not know of another weapon station with these features. The Nanuk’s system of observation allows soldiers to see clearly more that 10 kilometres away, night or day. It is stabilized in such a way that it can keep sight of its target even if the vehicle on which it is mounted goes through a series of turns and elevation changes.

(Story by Canadian Forces Cpl Jasper Schwartz.)

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