Moog Displays 30x173mm Bushmaster Cannon Variant of RIwP in UK for 1st Time

Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B), a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision motion control components and systems, has displayed its larger gun variant of the Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP®) in the UK for the first time. On display at the recent British Army Counter-UAS Expo held at Thorney Island in July, RIwP was showcased with the 30x173mm Bushmaster Mk44 chain gun.

This powerful configuration – which leverages a number of operationally-proven and high-TRL components – demonstrates the significant flexibility of RIwP, allowing users to select effectors and sensors that suit their requirements. This specific RIwP variant is a low-risk solution and has already gone through live fire exercises with the U.S. Army.

The British Army’s Counter-UAS Expo has come at a critical time for the armed forces as drones become one of the main threats on today’s battlefield. Ongoing conflicts continue to show the operational challenges that drones of all sizes pose to friendly forces.

The 30x173mm chain gun is a larger weapon than previously seen on RIwP in the UK. RIwP has previously been displayed with the 30x113mm cannon, a compact yet highly-effective gun that has been widely deployed operationally. Both 30mm gun variants are suited for counter-UAS roles, depending on the integration and capabilities required. The availability of both variants on a common weapons hub such as RIwP gives significant flexibility for frontline forces.

Richard Allen-Miles, EMEA Capture Lead at Moog, commented: “The blistering pace at which new threats are appearing and evolving on the modern battlefield demands a weapon system that can evolve at an equally rapid rate – this is ingrained in RIwP.”

“We look forward to demonstrating the capabilities of RIwP further across a range of mission sets for the British Army. In addition, we are committed to ensuring that RIwP delivers not only for the British Army, but for UK jobs and economic prosperity as part of the government’s growth agenda.”

With the common base hub of RIwP, users of a 30x173mm RIwP variant would be able to share maintenance, logistics and spares with other units operating RIwP. This would include users for short-range air defence (SHORAD), as well as other roles including Mounted Close Combat Overwatch (MCCO).

RIwP provides complete flexibility in terms of swapping out effectors and sensors, allowing forces to keep pace with prevailing threats and maintaining a platform’s operational relevancy throughout its service life.

Moog is in the process of equipping a dedicated facility in the UK to manufacture and support RIwP if selected for British Army service, building valuable skills from Moog’s existing U.S. experience. This will leverage Moog’s current footprint in the UK and see the expansion of its British supply chain to support production, therefore boosting economic growth and supporting national security.

RIwP is already in operational use as a counter-UAS system – including both hardware and software – as part of two critical U.S. Army programmes of record: SGT Stout and Mobile Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft, Integrated Defeat System (M-LIDS), which is now delivering Increment 2.1.