Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg has secured a NOK 1.1 billion—approximately $118.4 million—contract to supply additional PROTECTOR RS4 Remote Weapon Systems to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada for the Canadian Army’s Armoured Combat Support Vehicle program, according to official company announcements.
The transaction represents a follow-on order that expands on previous deliveries of the RS4 system for the same vehicle platform, reinforcing an established industrial partnership between Kongsberg and GDLS-Canada. Kjetil Reiten Myhra, Executive Vice President, KONGSBERG and President of the Defence Systems division, stated that the contract confirms customer confidence in the technology and strengthens the company’s long-term relationship with GDLS-Canada.
## Fleet Expansion and Capability Integration
The newly ordered remote weapon systems will be integrated onto the Canadian Army’s Armoured Combat Support Vehicle fleet. According to reporting by Army Recognition, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a nearly C$2 billion investment on July 16, 2026, to acquire 190 additional ACSV platforms, expanding the planned total inventory from 360 to 550 vehicles.
The expanded fleet is intended to provide protected support capacity for units equipped with LAV 6.0 vehicles, reducing operational reliance on older Bison and M113-derived platforms. The ACSV platform supports diverse military roles, including ambulance, command post, electronic warfare, engineering, maintenance, recovery, and transport functions.
While the initial 360-vehicle program was contracted to GDLS-Canada in September 2019 following an approval earlier that year, the delivery sequence and variant distribution for the newly ordered 190-vehicle batch have not yet been published by Ottawa. Full operational capability for the initial fleet tranche is scheduled for 2028.
## Technical Specifications of the PROTECTOR RS4
The PROTECTOR RS4 is designed to enhance situational awareness, survivability, and operational flexibility for modern armored vehicle crews. The system can accept a range of armaments, including 5.56 mm, 7.62 mm, and 12.7 mm machine guns, 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, and anti-tank guided missiles where required.
Published configurations for the RS4 include a stabilized day sight, a thermal imager, and a laser rangefinder, offering unlimited 360-degree azimuth and an elevation range from minus 20 to plus 60 degrees. Without weapons or ammunition, the weapon station weighs 195 kilograms, increasing to approximately 295 kilograms when fitted.
Previous trials for the platform included live firing and reliability evaluations conducted by the Canadian military at CFB Gagetown, following an initial NOK 500 million contract awarded to Kongsberg in May 2020. Canadian authorities have not yet specified which weapon configurations will equip each variant within the latest 190-vehicle procurement batch.
