FNSS has announced the development of two new remote-controlled weapon systems (RCWS), one based on the Soviet-era 23 mm ZU-23-2 autocannon and another utilizing a 25/30 mm Bushmaster-type chain gun. These designs were identified in Turkish patent records, with the ZU-23-2-based system dated to Q2 2026 and the Bushmaster variant to Q4 2025.
Why it matters
- Modernizes legacy ZU-23-2 cannons for export-friendly RCWS platforms
- Offers scalable calibers to meet diverse land and naval platform requirements
- Leverages existing ammunition logistics in regions with ZU-23-2 inventories
- Enhances FNSS’s modular RCWS family following prior work on the ÇAKA system
The 23 mm system modernizes the legacy ZU-23-2 by integrating it into a contemporary architecture, featuring 50-round ammunition boxes and targeting users in Eastern Europe and the Middle East who retain stockpiles of this weapon. The 25/30 mm system aims to mount medium-caliber firepower on a lighter RCWS platform, enabling broader integration across land and naval vehicles.
FNSS is also evaluating the integration of anti-tank guided missile launchers into the SANCAK RCWS, which currently mounts either a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and is deployed on the PARS IV 6x6 Special Operations Vehicle. The new SANCAK variant under development is a direct evolution of the existing system, distinct from the SANCAK AT version used on PARS STA and KAPLAN STA vehicles. This effort builds on FNSS’s prior experience with the ÇAKA RCWS, which saw anti-tank (ÇAKA AT-K) and 30 mm/anti-tank (ÇAKA 30/AT-O) variants.
Why it matters for Turkey
These developments reflect FNSS’s strategy to expand its RCWS portfolio across calibers and mission profiles, offering export opportunities — particularly for operators seeking to modernize ZU-23-2-based air defense assets — while increasing the lethality of Turkish armored vehicles against modern threats. By upgrading legacy systems and integrating advanced munitions, FNSS supports the Turkish Land Forces’ goal of maintaining technological edge and interoperability within NATO frameworks, while strengthening its defense export potential in key regional markets.
Source: Turdef