Remote controlled weapon station

Not to be confused with Close-in weapon system.

A Kongsberg/Thales Protector M151 with an M2 heavy machine gun on a M1126 Stryker

A heavy FLW 200 made by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for the German Army

A light remote weapon system made by OTO Melara Iberica

A Sea Rogue fitted with a 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on a Valour class frigate of the South African Navy

A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), remotely operated weapon system (ROWS), or remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated light or medium-caliber weapon system, often equipped with a fire-control system, that can be installed on a ground combat vehicle or sea- and air-based combat platform.

Such equipment is used on modern military vehicles, as it allows a gunner to remain in the relative protection of the vehicle. It may be retrofitted onto existing vehicles, for example, the CROWS system is being fitted to American Humvees.