Check Out the Army's Remote-Controlled Weapons Tower That Allows Two Soldiers to Do the Job of 10

The U.S. Army at Fort Bliss in Texas is testing a remote-controlled weapons system that allows two soldiers to replace the job usually done by 10.

The project meant to help with perimeter security involves weaponized towers that are remotely controlled by two soldiers at a base camp.

"Every soldier I have assigned to securing the perimeter is one I don't have that can execute support missions," Lt. Col. Raphael Heflin, commander of the 142nd Combat Service Support Battalion, 1st Armored Division, said in a statement.

Photo credit: David Vergun/U.S. Army

Capt. Robert Scott, officer-in-charge of the 142nd CSSB's base defense operation center, said that one such tower, dubbed the "Tower Hawk System," can be put together by six soldiers in less than an hour and packing it back up into a container is just as easy.

The tower, a news release from the Army explained, can be mounted with a variety of gun systems but those being tested at Fort Bliss included a Browning M-2 50-caliber machine gun and a 338 Lapua sniper rifle. The two soldiers operating the system remotely can raise, lower, rotate and fire the weapon.

Photo credit: David Vergun/U.S. Army

Those operating the system watch screens that include traditional video as well as thermal and infrared views of the perimeter.

"Anything moving at night we see long before they see us," Scott said.

Check out this video showing the system in action:

Here's another view of the system, but it remained still:

(H/T: SlashGear)