At BEDEX 2026 (Brussels European Defence Exhibition), held from March 12 to 14 in Brussels, the Belgian company John Cockerill Defense presented a range of products from its brands Cockerill, Arquus, Hornet, Agueris, and Eurocontrol. Among them were the Cockerill 3105 turret system with a 105 mm gun mounted on a Leopard 1 tank, the Hornet Air Guard lightweight remote weapon station, the Arquus DRAILER unmanned ground platform, and the high-speed Cockerill i-X wheeled vehicle.
Photos: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
A particularly interesting offering is the so-called “Drone Killer” – a lightweight remotely controlled weapon station, the CLWS (Cockerill Light Weapon System), equipped with a 25 mm automatic cannon and paired with 70 mm laser-guided FZ275 LGR (Laser Guided Rocket) missiles produced by the French group Thales. The original system made its public (world) debut at IDEX 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, followed by its European premiere at DSEI 2021 in London.
The compact system can be integrated with light armored platforms, whether tracked or wheeled, in 4×4, 6×6, or 8×8 configurations. The turret features a lightweight aluminum construction resistant to shocks, vibrations, and mechanical stress, and offers an automatic digital fire control system with day-and-night target tracking, as well as stabilized firing while keeping the operator protected داخل the vehicle.
Ultimately, the CLWS is set to form the basis of John Cockerill Defense’s future counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS). Thanks to its speed, precision, and modularity, it will enable effective responses to the growing threat posed by drones and light aerial platforms, confirming its strategic role in multi-domain combat environments.
The gun, stabilized in both axes, is dual-fed with 25×137 mm ammunition, with a standard load of 200 rounds. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. As an alternative to the laser-guided FZ275 LGR rockets, the system can be equipped with a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles. In addition, it can be fitted with a laser/radar warning system (LWS/LWR), shot detection sensors, and smoke grenade launchers.
The station is equipped with a panoramic electro-optical sight featuring a day camera and a thermal imager, with maximum detection/recognition/identification ranges of 13 km / 6.1 km / 4.3 km for the day channel and 8 km / 3.6 km / 2 km for the thermal channel, as well as a laser rangefinder. The gun has an elevation range from −10° to +60°.
The manufacturer offers ballistic protection at Level 2 according to the NATO STANAG 4569 standard for the station’s main components. Combat weight is approximately 600 kg.