Colombian Army to Use Rafael Weapon System

Rafael’s “Mini Samson” weapon station

23/1/2013 Moriya Ben-Yosef - israeldefense.com

Colombian Defense Ministry procuring 24 light armored vehicles by General Dynamics, which will be equipped with Rafael's remotely-operated weapon stations

The Canadian subsidiary of General Dynamics has won a $65.3 million contract for supplying light armored vehicles to the Colombian army, each of which will be equipped with remotely-operated weapon stations produced by the Israeli company Rafael.

In the framework of the deal between the Colombian Defense Ministry and the Canadian government, Colombia will procure 24 LAV III light armored vehicles. The vehicles will include a doubled envelope and additional armor that increases protective capabilities against ambushes.

Each of the vehicles will be equipped with Rafael’s remotely-controlled weapon system. In September 2012, Giora Katz, Rafael's VP and head of the company's defense directorate, told IsraelDefense that the field of remotely-operated weapon systems will be a main field of activity in Rafael in the coming years, including for the purpose of exports.

Among other things, Rafael has recently developed a station which has an installed weapon that can be loaded from within the fighting chamber, through the use of a round magazine that can be reloaded with ammunition from within an APC. The ability to reload from within the vehicle allows for near-continuous fire, without endangering the vehicle crew.