WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has placed a new order with Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace AS for the company's Protector remote weapon station technology.
The $200 million order is part of the Army's Common Remotely Operated Weapon Stations II weapon stations joint acquisition program. Under the deal, Norway-based Kongsberg will supply its mobile weapon stations technology for the M1151 Humvee mine resistant ambush protected vehicles and the M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks.
Officials say the new Army order falls under the larger $1.4 billion CROWS II agreement signed with Kongsberg in August 2007.
"The remote weapon station market is expanding exponentially at the moment for a very good reason," Knut Saeter, Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace vice president, said in a statement.
"Soldiers' lives are put at risk in complex conflict areas, and the Protector Family of Remote Weapon Stations is saving lives by putting them out of harm's way."
