Photo By Mark Schauer | Earlier versions of the CROWS were not feasible in the Paladin, the most potent...... read more read more
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When it comes to impact on Soldier safety and combat effectiveness, the Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) has been one of the more significant systems in the Department of War.
The system allows gunners to operate a variety of mounted weapons from inside an armored vehicle, shielding them from small arms fire and improvised explosive device blasts they were formerly vulnerable to in a turret.
A gyro-stabilized mount and fully integrated fire control system allow for high-precision targeting and a high probability of a first-burst hit, even while an armored vehicle is on the move.
Today, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) is conducting developmental testing of a low-profile variant (LP-CROWS) that will integrate the system into the M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzer and the M992A3 Carrier Ammunition Tracked vehicles.
“We’re testing enhanced technology such as better cameras and the effects of weapon loading and firing while integrated on the platform,” said Rafael Ortiz, YPG test officer.
The testing has evolved from concept to developmental testing (DT) on YPG’s vast ranges in just over a year, driven by real-world changes in the ways modern wars are fought.
A major highlight of this initiative is that the installation package was developed as an entirely organic, internal Department of War effort. Instead of relying on a traditional Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplier, the project was rapidly executed from initial concept to a production-representative design through PM HS’s robust partnerships within the U.S. Army DEVCOM community. This internal collaboration drastically expedited the development timeline.
“Open hatch operations are no longer feasible,” said Ms. Connie English, project lead for U.S. Army Capability Program Executive Offensive Fires. “With the low-profile CROWS, the Soldiers have increased survivability."
Earlier versions of the CROWS were not feasible in the Paladin, the most potent self-propelled howitzer in the United States’ arsenal. Boasting a 155 mm main gun that can fire up to four rounds per minute, components on the platform have to be rugged enough to handle enormous amounts of recoil blowback force.
“The old CROWS has a larger profile, so having it installed on the Paladin did not meet transportation requirements,” said Martin Velasquez, YPG team lead. “The blast overpressure effects of the Paladin’s main gun repeatedly firing would break things on the old CROWS. The updated CROWS-LP has a smaller profile and is modified to be more robust.”
Soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas’ 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment and the Transformation Integration Directorate (TID) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma put the LP-CROWS through its paces across multiple weeks of testing at YPG, engaging in realistic scenarios grounded in CONOPS. YPG’s Threat Systems Target Branch has the largest single repository of foreign threat systems in the continental United States, and the ability to fabricate highly realistic replicas.
“The Soldiers are going to scan and engage the targets,” said Velasquez. “The Soldiers are providing feedback on the new system: the old system was just a manual gun; this is the first time they have control of the small caliber gun from inside the vehicle. We’re also going to be doing more follow-on testing running durability miles.”
Another new feature to the CROWS being tested at YPG will give the Paladin counter-small, unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) capability.
“We’re working with PM Crew Served Weapons who have worked with other program offices to put radar onto the CROWS to detect unmanned aerial systems,” said English. “Now we’ll have detected and defeat capability under closed hatch operations.”
Since the establishment of Joint Interagency Task Force 401 by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth last August, U.S. Army Yuma Test Center (YTC) has been designated as the primary, dedicated interagency C-sUAS test and training range.
“YTC was designated as the lead in counter-UAS research,” said Katharina Grenn, test manager for U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center. “I think by just performing our experiments here and being in-step allows us to maintain that glide path and work hand in hand toward the technology evolution.”
The testers were pleased with the support they received from dozens of YPG range personnel across multiple shops.
“I think over the course of this test and the previous one we have received phenomenal support,” said Grenn. “We’re going through this learning hand in hand to expedite and deploy a new weapons system.”
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2026 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 568303 |
| Location: | YUMA PROVING GROUND, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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