Brief footage of the new Lance Block 1 turret for the Australian Army’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle conducting firing trials in Germany, April 2020. Turret is mounted on a Rheinmetall Lynx KF31 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) test bed hull. 133 Australian Boxers will be procured as the reconnaissance variant and armed with Rheinmetall’s 30mm LANCE turret system; the remainder will be variants will include ambulance, command and control, joint fires, surveillance, repair and recovery, and driver training types. The main weapon is the MK30-2 / ABM automatic cannon, developed and built by Rheinmetall.
The use of this cannon brings a host of advantages for the vehicle crew. The turret has a reserve of 200 rounds of two different ammunition types for the main weapon. This means that the weapon can be resupplied with ammunition without the soldiers having to leave the protected vehicle interior. The turret also enables moving targets to be engaged accurately and effectively even when the vehicle itself is moving. Naturally, other weapons of various calibers or from other suppliers can also be integrated in the LANCE turret. Full flexibility is ensured in this respect as well.
The LANCE is equipped with a state-of-the-art, fully digital fire control system. Two electro-optical sights – each equipped with a high-resolution camera, a thermal imaging camera and a laser rangefinder – are also provided. One of the sights enables 360-degree visibility, irrespective of the movement of the turret. Of particular benefit is the fact that each system can be operated both by the commanding officer and by the gunner. With LANCE RC, the modular design also allows the turret system to be remotely controlled.
As well as the base version, a range of additional equipment can be integrated. A Situational Awareness System (SAS), an independent weapons station, C4I systems for network-enabled operations and an additional sight for the commanding officer are just a few examples of the virtually endless expansion possibilities. Turret systems such as LANCE or its remotely controlled brother LANCE RC from Rheinmetall Defence are masterpieces of innovative engineering ingenuity. Furthermore, with their enormous potential for enhancement, these modern turrets are already prepared for the challenges of coming decades.
