Marines pick Kongsberg for 30-millimeter cannon turret with ballistic computation, sensors, and fire control

Summary points:

• The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace a $117.9 million contract for its RT-20 Remote Turret, a compact 30-millimeter weapon system designed for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle.
• The RT-20’s automated fire-control suite computes ballistic corrections for vehicle motion, tilt, and lead angle, delivering high-precision fire while allowing Marines to operate the turret safely from inside the vehicle.
• Built to withstand harsh salt-water environments, the lightweight turret frees up interior space, boosts payload capacity, and integrates with Kongsberg’s networked combat solution for unmanned-vehicle coordination and hunter-killer capabilities.

QUANTICO MARINE BASE, Va. – U.S. Marine Corps combat leaders needed weapons turrets for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). They found a solution from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS in Kongsberg, Norway.

Officials of the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico Marine Base, Va., announced a $117.9 million order to Kongsberg last month for Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Medium Caliber Cannon Protector Remote Turret 20 (RT 20).

The RT-20 is a compact, lightweight, remotely operated weapons turret with a 30-millimeter automatic cannon, linkless ammunition handling, and advanced fire control. It is designed to resist the corrosive effects of salt water and salt spray in the marine environment.

30-millimeter cannon

A 30-millimeter cannon can engage targets like lightly armored vehicles, fortified positions, aircraft, and infantry. The 30-millimeter rounds provide greater penetration and damage than machine guns to take-on targets at long ranges and with high destructive power.

Marines approaching invasion beaches in the ACV-30 variant operate the RT 20 remotely from inside the vehicle using ballistic computation to compensate for vehicle motion. The design eliminates the need for a traditional turret inside the vehicle, and increases troop and equipment capacity while reducing weight.

The RT 20 fire-control system automatically performs ballistic computations that compensate for lead angle, cant, tilt, and vehicle motion, which improves weapon accuracy.

Wireless operation

The networked system offers remote and wireless operation, including integration with unmanned vehicles. It also supports automated precision Hunter-Killer functions and target sharing between vehicles through the Kongsberg Integrated Combat Solution (ICS). The fire control system couples with sensors and a linkless ammunition-handling system to increase reliability. Kongsberg originally won the RT 20 contract in November 2024.

The Kongsberg PROTECTOR family includes three remote turret variants, the RT 20, RT 40 and RT 60. The systems can be tailored for protection level, sensor performance, and for one or several operators.

On this order, Kongsberg will do the work in Johnstown, Pa., and Kongsberg, Norway, and should be finished by September 2027. For more information contact Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace online at www.kongsberg.com/kda/what-we-do/defence-and-security/remote-weapon-systems/protector-rt20, or Marine Corps Systems Command at www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil.