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Production of the US Marine Corps (USMC)’s Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Remote Weapon Station (RWS) has successfully moved from Kongsberg, Norway to Kongsberg Protech Systems USA in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with the inaugural system completing assembly and testing in March.
Additional systems are also being built for MADIS as part of the USMC’s Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) modernization effort.
“KONGSBERG’s Johnstown facility consistently yields remote weapon station manufacturing excellence, having produced more than 20,000 systems over the last 15 years. Our highly trained and skilled staff partnered with engineers and staff from Norway to successfully transition the production of all MADIS RWS to the Pennsylvania facility as part of our schedule and contract with the US Marine Corps,” said Jason Toepfer, project manager, MADIS RWS, Kongsberg Protech Systems. “The successful build of this inaugural system exemplifies our rigorous processes, joining the 5 prototype and test assets we’ve produced for the Marine Corps in Norway. This also kicks off MADIS RWS production here in the US, a move that allows us to better support this customer and deliver this critical lethality enhancement.”
The KONGSBERG RS6 RWS for MADIS RWS includes the XM914E1 30mmx113mm percussion-primed cannon with a co-axial M240C (7.62mm) machine gun, an integration kit for the STINGER Air-To-Air Launcher (ATAL) and provisions for future counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) defeat systems.
MADIS is part of the US Marine Corps’ plan to upgrade their two active Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) battalions. The first 30mm remote weapon system to be qualified on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle platform (JLTV), MADIS RWS mounts on JLTVs and fights as a complimentary pair, designated as Mk1 and Mk2.
The MADIS Mk1 features STINGER missiles, and neutralizes fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. Mk2 fulfills the c-UAS mission requirement, while also providing radar and command-and-control for the pair.
The US Marine Corps awarded Kongsberg the indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity Other Transaction Authority (OTA) production contract in September 2021. It has a ceiling of $94 million and includes a series of Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) systems, full-rate production units, spares and training. This production contract award followed a September 2020 OTA contract award from the USMC to KONGSBERG for test articles and activities, which included Design Verification Testing (DVT), after a competitive process.
The KONGSBERG RS6 RWS for MADIS leverages technology and competence drawn from multiple c-UAS and air defense programs. The system leverages commonality with the family of PROTECTOR RWS delivered and fielded with the US Army and Marine Corps.
