WASHINGTON — The American branch of the Israeli company Elbit Systems, Elbit Systems of America, has a new product. It was designed for the US Army, which took part in its development. This is a 50mm unmanned turret that should become part of the vehicle’s [platform] that will replace the obsolete American Bradleys.

The 50mm UT50 is a next-generation turret. The system has been tested for a “successful live-fire demonstration” at the US Army Test Center in Aberdeen, under the joint research and development agreement.

According to information published by the American division on its Facebook account, the Elbit Systems America UT50 is equipped with an XM913 cannon with the aforementioned 50 mm caliber and a high-capacity ammunition loading system. This is the development that has been tested by firing more than 200 projectiles at a distance of up to three kilometers.

Replacing Bradley

The new development is part of plans to integrate new weapons into future US military platforms. An example of such a platform is the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV). Elbit Systems formed a team together with the American subsidiary of the British company BAE Systems, called BAE Systems Inc.

The United States Army, last July released a request for proposals [RfP] for a detailed design, prototype build, and test effort on the OMFV, which will replace the aging Bradley armored vehicles and for which there are five applicants. These are General Dynamics Land Systems [GDLS], American Rheinmetall Vehicles, BAE Systems, Point Blank Enterprises, and Oshkosh Defense.