Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Czech machinery manufacturer Zetor successfully demonstrated the Zetor Gerlach 4×4 armoured tactical vehicle with Protector RWS Remote Weapon Systems at a live firing range in Norway earlier this month. Zetor Gerlach is a new-generation armoured tactical vehicle (ATV) developed by Zetor Engineering Slovakia. The 4×4 is based on a chassis known as Rolling Chassis Zetor. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been collaborating with Zetor on the integration of the PROTECTOR RS4 since 2020, as well as to enhance the defence and security of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
At the demonstration, the integration teams from Zetor and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace were joined by guests from the Czech Armed Forces and the Technical Military Institute of the Czech Republic. Zetor is a professional partner with the military materiel in the field of research, development, innovations and comprehensive delivery. Since 2010, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has been a supplier to the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic with the PROTECTOR RS4 on Iveco Light Multirole Vehicle. Both PROTECTOR RS4 and PROTECTOR RS6 are being considered for future programs in the Czech Republic.
The Protector RWS is a remotely controlled weapons station (RWS) that can be mounted to vehicles and stationary platforms. It has been in full scale production since December 2001. It is manufactured by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway. The PROTECTOR family includes the RS2, RS4 and RS6 Remote Weapon Stations, – with weapons from light machine guns (5.56mm) to light cannons (30mmx113mm). It also includes the Remote Turrets, – designed for medium caliber cannons like 30mmx173mm and 40mmx180mm. KONGSBERG has delivered more than 20.000 PROTECTOR RWS to a total of 28 nations. This includes the major US program Commonly Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS).
It uses multi-layer components, which increase the protection of the occupants and the vehicle. The overpressure armoured capsule is directly mounted on the chassis, while the gantry frame arrangement can resist high dynamic effects. The ATV measures 5.65m-long, 2.5m-wide and 2.5m-high. It has a conventional layout, housing power-pack at the front, crew cab in the centre and a cargo section at the rear. The vehicle is equipped with an MTU six-cylinder engine with a rated power output of 240kW and a maximum torque of 1,300Nm, while the engine is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission for providing maximum power at different speeds.
