Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1258433
Schützenpanzer Puma CONVENTIONAL OR REMOTE? As we can see, the selection here boils down to choosing whether the turret is conventional (manned) or remotely controlled. Nonetheless, unmanned systems are gradually becoming an omnipresent trend in the western states. This happens due to several advantages systems as such have. The size alone is an advantage. Unmanned turrets are much smaller and lighter than their manned equivalents. It is easier to arrange the ammunition and ATGMs in a turret as such, thus isolating these assets from the crew. A remote-controlled turret may also have a lighter armor than the hull. This translates extra weight savings without compromising the crew safety. Furthermore, most of the systems as such are placed on a small diameter turret ring, while the space under the ring is not taken by the turret mechanisms. Thus, an IFV fitted with an unmanned turret can carry one or two soldiers more (with the same weight and dimensions of the hull). This is an incredibly relevant advantage of a layout as such. Furthermore, in the case of remotely controlled open turret systems, the weight savings are even more significant. The elevation range is broad for the armament, and the system as such is easy to maintain. So, are the remote control weapons modules perfect? Not so much. The first problem stems from the limited situational awareness here. Apart from prototype solutions, with numerous cameras and helmet-mounted display systems, no replacement has been created for a commander hatch surrounded with periscopes, or for an open hatch. The situational awareness of the crews that have the remotely controlled turret at their disposal is relevantly lower. However, in some cases (Puma IFV for instance) attempts have been made to mitigate this. The commander has a hatch and periscopes at his disposal, nonetheless, these are placed on the hull, not on the turret. The above translates into the higher cost of the remote-control systems and the sophisticated nature of a solution as such. A manned turret is easier to design and manufacture, and this is an invaluable feature in countries where the defense industry is not at the level commonly referred to as state of the art. One of the serious problems here is the issue of protecting the remote- controlled turret systems. Another refers to their reliability, and the ability to rectify the weapon malfunctions from the inside. In the case of open unmanned turrets, it is impossible to protect them from flammable agents (Molotovs, napalm, thermite, and so on). They are not protected from ANALYSIS