EVPÚ Defence a.s. has long focused on the development and production of remotely operated weapon stations (RWS) designed for a wide range of platforms and weapon systems. These systems provide a wide range of capabilities, from observation and reconnaissance through target detection and tracking to their elimination, in both semi-automatic and fully automatic modes. At last year’s IDET trade fair, the company introduced new variants of the GLADIUS series weapon stations. We spoke with Claudia Budayová, Director of the Sales Division at EVPÚ Defence, about how these systems have evolved since then and what they can offer today.

The GLADIUS MAX weapon station was officially unveiled at the IDET 2025 trade show, where it went on to win the Golden IDET Award. Could you describe its main features?

GLADIUS MAX is a modular weapon system developed to address the growing need for flexible defense against unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and ground-based threats. The station combines an integrated radar with an advanced electro-optical sight, which includes a cooled thermal imaging camera, a daytime camera, and a laser rangefinder. A distinctive feature of the solution is that the electro-optical sight moves independently of the weapon mount, which significantly enhances detection capabilities as well as target tracking accuracy and fire control. The integration of the radar enables the GLADIUS MAX system to detect threats at long range and eliminate them sooner than remotely operated weapon stations that rely exclusively on electro-optical sensors.

For which weapon systems is GLADIUS MAX designed?

The GLADIUS MAX is designed to be equipped with a 30×113 mm automatic cannon. The system supports configurations with single or dual ammunition feed. The dual-feed variant allows the gunner to quickly switch between two types of ammunition: high-explosive, fragmentation rounds with proximity fuses designed to destroy air targets, and standard high-explosive ammunition with combined effects for ground targets. This capability allows for the selection of optimal ammunition based on the type of target, shortens reaction time, simplifies logistics, and increases the number of possible strikes before ammunition needs to be reloaded.

On which platforms can GLADIUS MAX be deployed?

The system is modular and can be configured to meet customer requirements. The weapon station is gyroscopically stabilized, making it particularly suitable for deployment on mobile platforms, including not only ground vehicles but also naval vessels. At the same time, it can also be effectively used as part of stationary defense solutions.

What capabilities does this weapon station offer in the context of the modern battlefield?

Thanks to the combination of radar and a cooled thermal imaging camera, the GLADIUS MAX can accurately detect both air and ground threats at considerable distances, even in low-light conditions. Upon detecting a threat, the system automatically locks onto the target, begins tracking it, and applies the necessary ballistic corrections. The gunner then simply confirms the firing command. We are also able to supply the weapon station with our own control software and an operator station that is compact and meets modern requirements for ergonomics and user-friendliness. At the same time, however, the system is ready for integration into higher-level integrated command, control, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISTAR) systems, which link sensors, command posts, and combat assets into a single functional unit.

The GLADIUS MAX is based on the GLADIUS 12 weapon station, which forms the foundation of your product line. Have there been any changes to this system as well?

Yes, this system has also undergone further development. For a long time, the GLADIUS 12 weapon station was primarily available in a configuration for a 12.7 mm machine gun. In response to growing demand for greater flexibility, we have developed a set of adapters that allow for easy weapon replacement in the mount. GLADIUS 12 can now be equipped not only with a 12.7 mm machine gun, but also with a 7.62 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

This versatility allows the system to be adapted to specific mission types: the 12.7 mm machine gun can be used to engage lightly armored targets and vehicles, the 7.62 mm machine gun for suppressing infantry and operations in urban environments, while the automatic grenade launcher can destroy targets behind cover or in trench positions. A single platform can thus perform multiple types of tasks without the need to procure specialized variants, allowing the military to standardize a single weapon station across units while simultaneously reducing costs for training, maintenance, and spare parts logistics.