BAE Systems has been awarded a contract by the US Naval Air Systems Command to provide a defensive weapon system for NAVAIR’s V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.

Under the $14m contract, BAE will produce and support a belly-mounted, all-quadrant defensive weapon capability for the Osprey aircraft.

The weapon system is based on the remote guardian system (RGS), a remotely operated defensive weapon system that provides 360° of suppressive weapons fire for the V-22.

The RGS is a common airborne defensive capability designed to be belly mounted on the V-22 to deliver accurate, sustained fire throughout the aircraft’s flight envelope.

Work for this system will be carried out at the company’s facilities in New York and Minnesota, US, and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2012.