ESW - Control, Aiming and Stabilization Engineering Systems

ESW is a world-leader in military applications and systems used in main battle tanks, wheeled combat vehicles, light armoured vehicles and next-generation vehicles and military aircraft. Engineering, development, testing and customer services in the military field have been the core business for more than half a century.

ESW is located in Wedel, Germany and is a fully-owned subsidiary of Jenoptik, which is headquartered in Jena, Germany.

ELECTRICAL TARGETING AND STABILISATION DRIVES

The GTdrive® family of electrical targeting and stabilisation drives was designed in the early 1980s as a modular low-weight and low-volume system with considerable growth potential that has enabled it to take advantage of future technological advances. The GTdrive family offers solutions for different turrets and weapon platforms with various calibres (7.62mm up to 155mm).

The GTdrive system can be used either as a new construction or a retrofit kit for light to very-heavy turrets. It has the following capabilities:

• Precise stabilisation and positioning of the armament using an electronic coincidence window that functions in conjunction with the platform's fire control system
• Low noise and infra-red signatures
• Low fire risk (as no hydraulic fluid used)
• Variable control speeds to ensure accurate fine laying of the armament
• Fast target-assignment capability to ensure a high first-round hit probability
• Modularity of sub-systems to allow tailoring to platform requirement and rapid replacement without the need for calibration and adjustment work
• Specific configuration management and maintenance-free (even after extended storage)
• Overload protection circuits (that are dimensioned for high-loading situations)
• High efficiency due to low current-requirement using the platform's own power supply
• Different supply voltages (24VDC, 270VDC, 610VDC or customised)

GTDRIVE TARGETING AND STABILISATION DRIVE APPLICATIONS

The main applications for our targeting and stabilisation drives are:

• Brushless electric motors with permanent magnets protected against overload and de-energisation
• Electro-magnetic brakes to stop the turret or weapon after system switch-off, with torque limiter for protection of the turret and weapon systems
• Electrical back-up drives or conventional manual-drive mechanisms
• Power amplifiers

TANK TURRET TARGETING AND STABILISATION DRIVES

The GTdrive system for the Leopard 2 MBT turret comprises the following component modules:

• Azimuth drive
• Elevation drive
• Power and stabilisation electronics
• Gunner's control handle
• Emergency control handle
• Control electronics (emergency drive)
• Acceleration sensor
• Weapon gyro (alternatively p-gyro for low cast or l-gyro for low-drift)
• Turret gyro

CUSTOMISED STABILISATION DRIVE MODULES

These standard modules are supplemented as required with the appropriate extension modules according to the customer application requirement, including the control handle for commanders; commander, gunner and main operating units; trunnion encoders; deck clearance switches; vehicle power distribution boxes; slip-ring assemblies; electronic turret position indicators; and firing magnets for the main or secondary armaments.

The modularity of the system and its power reserves allow the same GTdrive modules to be used in different turret types. Connections to digital fire-control systems and to digital close-loop controllers are also in operation in various serial productions. Our products are in service in Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain, and also on trial in the US Army.