13th September 2023 – Newcastle upon Tyne – RAFAEL has announced that Pearson Engineering will play a significant role in delivering the SAMSON 30mm Remote Weapon Station (RWS).
Initially aimed at UK opportunities, the collaboration launched at DSEI 2023, will see critical knowledge and skills transferred to the Newcastle based team. This strategic development supports current thinking around Boxer’s role on the battlefield as the foundation of a dispersed medium force.
The SAMSON 30mm RWS is an advanced remote-controlled weapon station which incorporates a suite of sophisticated combat capabilities, including SPIKE, the world’s leading anti-tank guided missile which is in use with 20 NATO members and throughout Europe. The set-up also includes partnership with EUROTROPHY to offer TROPHY as a proven active protection system for Boxer. The advanced, precise strike capabilities of SPIKE, together with the TROPHY active protection system allow BOXER to conduct operation in more challenging conditions, and to undertake new types of missions to meet the needs of the current operational environment.
The news follows Pearson Engineering’s recently announced contract from KNDS, to supply mission module fabrications for the British Army’s BOXER vehicle. This contract award firmly cements Pearson Engineering’s position within the UK BOXER Team. It also builds upon Pearson Engineering’s rapidly growing expertise across UK land manufacturing programmes, which includes the delivery of Challenger 3 turret structures and armour packs for Ajax.
“Pearson Engineering has achieved a reputation as a leading defence manufacturer and comes with a rich heritage, and expertise in providing the UK MOD with effective defence solutions and capabilities. Through Pearson Engineering, RAFAEL’s sophisticated technologies will be readily available for the UK MOD. RAFAEL is proud to be providing the know-how and unique systems in its portfolio to recently acquired Pearson Engineering. Through the SAMSON 30mm RWS and the unique suite of capabilities that Pearson Engineering is offering the UK MOD, we are confident that together we will be able to strengthen our support for our British partners.” Ran Gozali, Executive Vice President at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
“Pearson Engineering is a proud and longstanding provider of products and manufacturing services to the UK MoD, with expertise developed through our work with users all around the world. This strategic initiative with RAFAEL will see a step change in our potential to contribute to British Army programmes, enhancing skills, jobs, and capabilities at Armstrong Works, and providing valuable new opportunities for export.” Craig Priday, Managing Director at Pearson Engineering.
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Background:
Our battle proven minefield breaching products provide armoured vehicles with the capability to defeat anti-tank mines. Whether intended for deliberate breaching or to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for fighting vehicles, our blast-resistant ploughs give Commanders the option to move unimpeded and in doing so, maintain a battlefield advantage.
Our earth loading capability delivers a powerful digging and carrying ability, enabling armoured vehicles to transport materials, clear obstacles, dig and fill trenches and to assist in construction tasks. Our loaders can be provided with varying degrees of function and therefore complexity to support different mission sets.
Our interrogation capability is rooted in providing additional capability for Counter-IED and Route Proving operations. To supplement physical detection from ground engaging roller systems, our interrogation arm can be used to further understand the nature of threats and to identify where risks may be present outside of the path of the roller.
Our obstacle and earth moving products include general purpose and multi-purpose dozer blades, designed specifically to meet the needs of different mission sets. Our blades are designed to be tough, robust and lightweight, enabling a wide range of obstacle and earth moving activities whilst minimising the impact on the vehicle’s mobility.
Typically used alongside Pearson Engineering’s Route Opening Mine Plough, Surface Clearance Device or Route Proving rollers, our highly configurable obstacle marking systems support battlefield mobility by quickly and reliably marking safe lanes and the edge of hazardous areas.
Our excavation capability is designed to support combat engineer operations such as digging, demolishing, removing obstacles and filling trenches to support Area Access and Area Denial.
Our approach is often described as a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ in that host vehicles can be adapted to take on various combat engineering roles, or to overcome challenges to mobility. Integration of our products with the vehicle is made via a Pearson Engineering Direct Fit Interface or Pearson Engineering Quick Connect. The most suitable integration method depends on the mission requirements and vehicle capabilities. Our engineers will work closely with end-users and vehicle manufacturers to define the most appropriate route to minimise the impact on the vehicle and to maximise operational capability. Decisions are often based on hydraulic and electrical availability as well as the required role of the vehicle. Our integration kits are used to fit products that are designed to enhance armoured vehicle agility, tactical flexibility and adaptability. They are designed to be configurable and to deliver ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ to operations.
Our recovery capability includes a range of dedicated and multi-purpose blades which are primarily designed to support the recovery of other vehicles and for moving of heavy obstacles. A powerful ground-engaging blade sinks into the earth to hold a vehicle static, acting as the force against which the obstacle can be pulled. The same blade can be articulated to provide some obstacle and earth moving capability.
Surface laid mines represent a rising threat as Armed Forces turn their attention to near peer conflict. Our solutions, each designed to support the missions of dedicated combat engineer vehicles or fighting vehicles, provide a comprehensive detect and displace capability to support deliberate clearance or self-extraction in the face of air delivered scatterable mines.
Our highly configurable rollers have saved countless lives, limbs and assets on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and have succeeded in ensuring ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for soldiers around the world. Provided as either a full-width ‘route proving’ variant to actively check routes for the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices, or as a track-width ‘self-protection’ variant, our rollers are designed specifically to meet the needs of wide-ranging operational requirements. Our continued Research & Development and our approach to customisation provides confidence to those who use them.
Like all of Pearson Engineering’s products, our assault gap crossing solutions are designed to be modular, to be interchangeable with other mobility and counter-mobility equipment and to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ on the battlefield. In a time when units are tasked to ‘march divided and fight united’, independent manoeuvre support is key.
Our range of Mine Clearance platforms and tools provide Armed Forces and other organisations with scalable solutions for mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and the defeat of improvised explosive devices. Our platforms and their tools can also be used to create mobility challenges for adversaries. Proven around the world, these mine clearance platforms and their tools are designed specifically to meet the needs of different operational contexts from large area clearance to support logistics and peace keeping operations through to clearance in complex terrain.