At the US Army Yuma Proving Ground, engineers are currently carrying out developmental testing of a low-profile Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station intended for integration on the M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and the M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicle. 

The effort also addresses an expanding operational need to better shield artillery crews from evolving battlefield threats that increasingly target platforms during movement, firing missions, and resupply activities.

Through these trials, the US Army is assessing the effectiveness of closed-hatch operation of a small-caliber weapon system, alongside a potential capability for countering small unmanned aircraft systems. 

Stabilized fire-control benefits of CROWS system

The Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) is increasingly viewed as a key crew-protection technology due to its ability to let soldiers engage targets from inside an armored vehicle instead of an exposed turret position. According to the US Army, this configuration significantly reduces exposure to small arms fire and improvised explosive device blasts while on operations.

The system also incorporates a gyro-stabilized mount and an integrated fire-control suite designed to enhance targeting precision and improve the likelihood of a first-round hit, even when the vehicle is in motion, Army Recognition reports.

Currently, the US Army is valuating a low-profile variant, LP-CROWS, installed on the M109A7 Paladin and the M992A3 ammunition carrier, both core tracked vehicles within Paladin artillery formations.

These trials focus not only on the new system configuration but also on how it integrates with and affects overall platform performance. According to Rafael Ortiz, a test officer at Yuma Proving Ground, the evaluation includes upgraded capabilities such as improved camera systems, alongside assessments of weapon loading and firing dynamics while the system is mounted on the vehicle.

Paladin platform pushes limits of remote weapon station integration

The transition from concept to developmental testing at Yuma Proving Ground took just over a year, reflecting how quickly lessons from modern combat have influenced system design priorities. The US Army reports that the installation package was developed as an internal Department of War initiative rather than through a conventional original equipment manufacturer pathway. 

The effort advanced from early concept work to a production-representative configuration through close coordination between Program Management (PM) High Mobility Systems and the US Army DEVCOM community, Army Recognition adds.

The M109A7 Paladin presents a particularly challenging environment for integrating any additional weapon station. Previous iterations of CROWS were deemed unsuitable for the platform due to constraints related to vehicle profile, transportability, and survivability concerns tied to the howitzer’s operational conditions.

The Paladin’s 155 mm main gun, capable of firing up to four rounds per minute, places significant stress on any additional mounted systems, which must withstand recoil, vibration, and repeated blast overpressure. According to Martin Velasquez, a Yuma Proving Ground team lead, earlier CROWS variants were too large for the platform, did not meet transport requirements, and were susceptible to damage during sustained firing. The updated LP-CROWS features a smaller, more robust design, allowing the Army to test its durability in the Paladin’s demanding operational environment.

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