As threats evolve across the world, the U.S. Army must keep pace with its adversaries’ modernization efforts.  Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center and Deputy Commanding General, Futures, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, has led the charge to enhance the lethality of the Army’s Brigade Combat Teams (BCT).  McMaster often references “no fair fights” and “smoking boots” when describing the need to invest in increased lethality, especially in the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT).  Recognizing the need to upgun its units to maintain overmatch, the Army has initiated several activities to deliver 30mm medium caliber capabilities to its formations.

Responding to an urgent Operational Needs Statement from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army Europe, the Army is accelerating the fielding of a 30mm capability to this Stryker formation.  The Army is also pursuing a precision medium caliber lethality solution for the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle – Reconnaissance Variant (JLTV RV). This reconnaissance vehicle requires a lightweight medium caliber turret. The Moog Inc. Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) meets the Army’s directed requirement for “…increased precision lethality through improved optics and a larger caliber weapon…” with demonstrated performance, and is available today.

“The RIwP is light enough for a tactical vehicle, yet it has more fire power in many configurations than fighting vehicles, providing overmatch advantages to the warfighter,” said Rob Urban, General Manager of Moog’s Santa Barbara, CA Operations. 

RIwP provides commanders with more than 125 configurations including missiles, direct-fire weapons, non-lethal deterrents, and an advanced sensor package which can be rapidly reconfigured by warfighters in the field.  Based on the threat, commanders can select a wide variety of lethality packages, for example: a 30mm / 7.62mm coax, or a dual-TOW / 7.62mm coax configuration.   Each configuration can use existing Army targeting and surveillance sensors such as Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3) and Improved Bradley Acquisition Subsystem (IBAS). The RIwP protects warfighters with a reload under armor capabilityand improves situational awareness with a gunner’s hatch.   The turret includes unmatched pointing and stabilization accuracy, allowing U.S. soldiers to see first and shoot first with decisive and deadly effects.  With RIwP, Scouts can conduct long range reconnaissance on the move or fight for information with the increased lethality.

RIwP uses reliable and proven components that are being employed in current Army and Marine Corps programs resulting in a high-technology readiness level.  Moog successfully live-fired RIwP with an M2 .50 caliber, Mk19 40mm grenade launcher, and Javelin missile at Redstone Arsenal, AL in 2015. In December 2016 at Red Cloud Range, Fort Benning, GA, Moog successfully fired the ATK M230LF 30mm cannon, demonstrating precision in single shot and five-shot burst mode at ranges out to 1,500 meters.  In the near future, Moog plans to demonstrate its dual-TOW capability.  RIwP has demonstrated its modularity and maturity under realistic live-fire conditions. It’s not just a good idea; it’s a real capability available now.

Moog engineers are currently assessing the feasibility of firing ground-to-air missiles such as Stinger and HELLFIRE® from the RIwP turret.  “RIwP, combined with our proven production weapons stores management system capability, will provide the warfighter maximum weapon system interoperability for unmatched mission effectiveness,” said Jim Riedel, Group Vice President, Moog Space and Defense Group.  Mounted on a JLTV, Stryker, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV), Armored Security Vehicle (ASV), or Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), RIwP provides BCT commanders an organic, highly-mobile, short range air defense capability.  RIwP provides a single solution to address the broad range of enemy air threats.  From destroying enemy unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with a 30mm airburst munition to destroying enemy rotary wing assets with Stinger missiles, RIwP provides a commander an answer to these emerging threats.

RIwP was developed by Moog with defense-industry teammate, Leonardo DRS, formerly DRS Technologies. “DRS is excited to team with Moog on RIwP.  Together, we have worked very closely with the user community to offer a very capable turret with precision lethality, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities.  RIwP is truly a modular turret that allows Army leaders to choose from various weapon and sensor options that are field-reconfigurable, without the need for contractor support.  The Moog-DRS team is leaning forward to deliver this capability because we strongly believe RIwP is the right solution for U.S. Army Scouts,” said John Fitzpatrick, Vice President for Programs, DRS Land Systems business unit.  RIwP is proudly designed and made in the U.S.A. www.moog.com/riwp

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