Kongsberg to Supply PROTECTOR RS4 Weapon Stations for Polish K2PL
Kongsberg has signed a roughly 700 million NOK deal with Hyundai Rotem to supply PROTECTOR RS4 remote weapon stations for Poland's K2PL tanks and support vehicles.
Poland's K2PL tanks will be fitted with Norwegian remote weapon stations that let crews fire without leaving the armoured hull. Kongsberg has signed a contract with South Korea's Hyundai Rotem, the maker of the K2, worth about 700 million Norwegian kroner, or roughly 280 million zloty.
The deal was announced on 22 October and covers PROTECTOR RS4 stations for three types of vehicle destined for the Polish Army: K2 main battle tanks, ARV recovery vehicles and CEV combat engineering vehicles. The first units are due to reach Hyundai Rotem in spring 2027 so integration can begin. The contract also includes spare parts, personnel training and technical support. The exact number of modules and the weapon configuration for Poland have not been disclosed.
Firing from under armour
The main advantage of the RS4 is that the weapon is operated from inside the vehicle. Instead of leaning out of a hatch to use a machine gun, the operator watches a monitor fed by cameras and aims with controls in the hull. The module rotates 360 degrees, elevates from -20 to +60 degrees and is stabilised for firing on the move. It carries a high-resolution day camera, a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder.
The platform accepts 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm machine guns and 40 mm automatic grenade launchers. Compatible weapons include the Browning M2, the Polish WKM-B and the UKM-2000C, and the maker also foresees guided missiles such as Javelin and Spike. The contract does not say which of these Poland will choose. The station weighs from about 195 kg unarmed, rising to around 295 kg with an M2 and 400 rounds. On the K2PL it will supplement the 120 mm smoothbore main gun rather than replace it.
Support vehicles included
The order extends beyond tanks. Under the second executive contract with Hyundai Rotem, Poland ordered 31 ARV recovery vehicles, 25 engineering vehicles and 25 accompanying bridges. Kongsberg's contract covers the tanks and the first two vehicle types, but not the bridges. Recovery and engineering crews can also come under fire, so a protected weapon adds self-defence without exposing soldiers.
The contract is one element of the wider K2PL programme, for which preparations for assembly in Gliwice have reportedly been accelerated by several months.
