SIG Leans Heavier into Defense with General Robotics Acquisition

New Hampshire-based SIG Sauer this week announced it has acquired an Israeli defense firm heavily involved in advanced robotic platforms.

New to SIG's portfolio is General Robotics of Beit Nehemya, Israel. Founded by Ehud Gal in 2009, the company has done extensive work developing lightweight remote weapon stations and tactical robotics for both manned and unmanned platforms and anti-drone applications.

Among General Robotics’ catalog has been the Pitbull and Shark RWS systems, which can use all machine guns up to .50-caliber in both the land and maritime environments. SIG showed off a Pitbull station mounted on a side-by-side earlier this year at a demonstration in Nevada. In the event, the RWS utilized SIG's .338-caliber light machine gun.

General Robotics’ Pitbull RWS — With low energy requirements, the Pitbull weighs under 200 pounds and can be fully operated by remote. A stabilized platform accommodates everything from 5.56 to .50-caliber guns and can be married to a powerful drone jammer that can block several frequencies simultaneously to disrupt the drones' video, command, and GPS signals. (Photos: SIG)

General Robotics’ Pitbull RWS control — The Pitbull uses a simple touch screen tablet: the Ranger all-in-one control system. (Photo: SIG)

General Robotics’ Shark RWS — The navalized maritime variant of the Pitbull is the Shark, which is already in service with the Greek Navy, among others. (Photo: General Robotics)

SIG sees the ability to integrate its new line of next-generation small arms with General Robotics’ assorted RWS platforms as an obvious win.

General Robotics’ Pitbull RWS at SIG event — The Pitbull and other RWS systems will mesh well with SIG's defense-related offerings, such as the Next Generation Squad Weapon program. (Photo: SIG)

"The combination of the General Robotics remote weapons station with SIG Sauer’s lightweight squad weapons and high-pressure hybrid ammunition will revolutionize small arms for military forces worldwide," said Ron Cohen, President and CEO of SIG. "This acquisition exponentially increases the capabilities of our lightweight weapon systems delivering transformative advancements in mobility, greater lethality and battle-tested force protection for today’s warfighters."

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