A journey from the origins and development of RIwP to RIwP innovations and future geographic expansion
To fully understand how innovative RIwP is, it’s important to explore the origins of the turret. In this insight piece, we look at how Moog adapted its business model from supplying turret components to offering system-level turret solutions, and how RIwP – with its unique modular capabilities – found success in a rapidly evolving battlespace.
Moog has comprehensive experience in designing and manufacturing a wide range of turret components for military ground-vehicle applications worldwide. Notably, Moog is renowned for its precision motion control expertise, especially two-axis turret motion control that enables fully stabilized azimuth and elevation movement of the turret and weapon effectors. This ensures ultra-precise weapon pointing across all target tracking scenarios, including challenging dynamic tracking engagements where the vehicle / turret and target are both moving.
Moreover, Moog is a specialist and global leader in slip ring technology and products that allow uninterrupted transmission of power, data, and communications signals from a base structure (e.g., vehicle) to an attached, rotating turret. Moog slip rings are integrated into many of the world's main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and numerous other armoured vehicles.
Developing a new market strategy
In the 2000s, Moog aimed to expand its turret product offerings and capabilities utilising its expertise in motion control, stabilisation, and slip ring technologies through strategic market growth and acquisition. The objective was to evolve into a comprehensive turret system provider.
In 2010, Moog made a transformative business decision to acquire Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS), a Santa Barbara, CA-based company with expertise in the areas of weapon system and fire control technologies, armoured weldments, and ammunition handling, as well as military ground-vehicle system integration experience. These were all crucial capabilities that Moog would capitalise on to create a unique system-level turret solution for our Armed Forces and allies.
The AIS acquisition and expansion of Moog’s capabilities disrupted a market that had traditionally seen vehicle OEMs develop their own application specific turrets, where Moog now offered a vehicle and weapon agnostic capability.
First success for Moog’s turret solution strategy
It wasn’t long until Moog could demonstrate its proficiency in providing a complete turret solution for a military customer.
In the early 2010s, the U.S. Marine Corps proposed plans to modernise its fleet of anti-tank armoured vehicles, known as the Light Armoured Vehicle – Anti-Tank (LAV-AT). Collaborating closely with industry partner Raytheon, Moog developed a complete turreted weapon solution to meet this need, utilising Raytheon’s formidable Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) anti-armour missile and the Modified Improved Target Acquisition System (MITAS) sensor.
Moog's newly developed LAV-AT turret significantly enhanced the U.S. Marine Corps' anti-armour capabilities and weapon stabilisation technologies that enabled the Marines to acquire and track targets on the move, enhancing lethality and survivability. Additionally, Moog was responsible for other critical components, including the armoured weldments, slip ring, actuation system, motor controller, gyro assemblies, encoders, and interconnect cabling, to name a few.
During this time, Moog – utilising AIS’ expertise – expanded its development of an indigenous fire control solution, which is critical component in a highly capable, full turret system. A Fire Control System (FCS) is effectively the brain behind the turret, processing data from sensors to provide an accurate pointing and firing solution for the specific weapon effector fitted, whether a gun or a missile launcher. In parallel, Moog continued to foster its relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Army to further understand the needs of the end-user and develop solutions that met those needs.
Leveraging the success of LAV-AT, and subsequent in-depth strategy planning, Moog identified a market need for a weapon-agnostic, vehicle-agnostic, and mission-agnostic turret. Led by the late Rob Urban, a dedicated Moog employee and Santa Barbara site manager, the Moog Santa Barbara team successfully conceived, designed, and prototyped the Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP).
The invention of RIwP
In the mid-2010s, different types of aerial threats were not only increasing but the technology underpinning these threats was also changing dramatically. This was especially true for the smaller group 1 and 2 drones or Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which had begun to proliferate across the world and were becoming central to many conflicts.
Through the hard work and dedication of an experienced team, Moog was able to demonstrate the new RIwP turret, complete with advanced FCS, to the U.S. DoD when the Army issued a joint urgent operational needs statement in 2015 for a counter-drone solution.
After a successful competitive live fire exercise in November 2017, RIwP was selected for the U.S. Army’s MLIDS (Mobile Low, slow, small, unmanned aircraft, Integrated Defeat System) programme, a dedicated counter-drone system that incorporates numerous sensors and weapon effectors. This was RIwP’s first success, but not its last.
Moog’s astute and timely investments in turreted weapon technology coincided with a critical period when the threat landscape was expanding significantly.
Coincident with the delivery of the first MLIDS systems, the U.S. Army also realised that its SHORAD (SHOrt Range Air Defense) capabilities to counter helicopters, larger UAVs and UASs (group 3, 4, and 5 airborne threats) was in desperate need of modernisation. The SHORAD capabilities were further required to be part of the defense posture of the Army’s manoeuvre (mobile) forces. This requirement became the M-SHORAD (Manoeuvre-SHORAD) program utilising the Army’s Stryker 8x8 as the system’s vehicle platform.
RIwP’s unique capabilities, including its ability to host a range of weapon effectors and sensor systems, were a perfect match for M-SHORAD. In 2018, Moog was selected as part of a competitive process to provide its RIwP turret as the centerpiece of the M-SHORAD program.
The M-SHORAD system is now known as the SGT Stout (named after medal of honour recipient SGT. Mitchell W. Stout, 1st Battalion, 44th ADA).
Continuing RIwP’s success in the U.S.
Building on the remarkable success of the RIwP, Moog continues to innovate and adapt to the emerging threats of the modern battlefield. For example, RIwP is integrated onto smaller robotic vehicles significantly enhancing the mobility and versatility of this platform. Furthermore, Moog is investing in advanced artificial intelligence technologies to augment the targeting and tracking capabilities of RIwP. These capabilities enhance the precision, efficiency, and survivability of the system, and underscore Moog's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements to ensure the safety and overmatch capabilities of the warfighters.
A look ahead to RIwP OCONUS (international) activities
Moog is dedicated to deploying the established RIwP capability to allies globally, with a particular focus on the UK. RIwP provides an unmatched capability able to meet the British Army’s Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) needs, both for SHORAD and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), and for a turreted anti-armour weapons solution that fulfills the UK’s Mounted Close Combat Overwatch (MCCO) role. RIwP's unique modular capability guarantees it not only meets the present needs of the British Army but is also flexible enough to tackle new threats in the constantly changing battlespace.
Moog has committed to establishing a RIwP manufacturing facility in the UK, creating British jobs and positively impacting the overall UK economy. The facility will replicate existing and mature U.S. RIwP production facilities, providing skills and knowledge transfer from the U.S. Ultimately, this partnership will contribute to an innovative, competitive, and highly skilled British industrial base. Moog will also use this manufacturing facility to enable UK exports to RIwP customers in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
The RIwP journey
Through this journey from turret component supplier to full turret system provider, Moog has revolutionised the defense industry with the invention of the RIwP turret.
And the journey is far from complete. As Moog advances RIwP through relentless innovation and design enhancements, it is expanding its global reach by establishing a presence in the UK and other allies’ markets. The unfolding story of RIwP stands as a testament to Moog’s strategic vision, dedication, and adaptability, and to its mission of Equipping Those Who Defend Freedom.
Born from innovation and strategic advancement, RIwP has gained acceptance from the U.S. Army and demonstrated its effectiveness in real-world missions.
Contact Moog Defense media at defense@moog.com