During this year‘s Association of the US Army exhibition, held in Washington, DC, in October 2024, ESD’s Curtis Hand met with Shawn Baerlocher, CEO of EOS Defense Systems USA, which is the wholly owned subsidiary of Electro Optic Systems in Australia.
EOS’ defence portfolio is built around advanced remote weapon systems (RWSs) that fulfil a range of requirements. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, EOS’ RWSs engage moving aerial, land and maritime targets, even while on the move. This is not to overlook the company‘s significant strides in high-energy laser (HEL) weaponry.
EOS’ RWSs are capable of mounting a wide range of weapons, from 5.56 mm machine guns to 30 mm cannons and with options to integrate Javelin anti-tank missiles and APKWS guided rockets. They are also equipped to provide a counter to the growing threat from unmanned aerial systems (UASs).
Shawn Baerlocher, meanwhile, has had a remarkable career, with extensive experience in defence technology development, both in the military and later in industry.
Curtis Hand (ESD): How did EOS Defense Systems USA come into being? What are the overall research and decelopment (R&D) benefits for the entire company?
Baerlocher: EOS Defense Systems USA was established just over five years ago to strengthen support for US Department of Defense customers and US industry partners. As counter-UAS capabilities become increasingly essential for the warfighter, EOS saw an opportunity to meet this critical need by bringing its advanced technology directly to the US market.
The expansion into the US has not only enabled closer partnerships with key US defence stakeholders but has bolstered EOS’ broader R&D efforts. Producing and refining systems such as the R600 and R800 RWSs in the US, developing new payload options, integrating on key customer platforms, and advancing capabilities accelerates EOS’ global operations, driving the development of lighter, more powerful weapon systems. This reflects EOS’ core R&D philosophy of engineering systems that maximise firepower while minimising weight.
In many cases we achieve turret-level firepower with significantly lower weight and cost than a crewed turret. Combined with precise pointing accuracy and a custom-built fire control system, EOS delivers a lighter, harder-hitting, highly accurate system, resulting in more kills per ammunition load than our competitors.
ESD: How will EOS Defense Systems USA adapt, innovate and lead this change in RWS developments?
Baerlocher: We’re excited to leverage advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning to integrate into our RWS, automating certain functions and enhancing warfighter capabilities, especially for C-UAS needs. Our focus remains on developing and integrating new payload options and combinations to increase the number of stowed kills available to operators. We’re also closely monitoring advances in robotic vehicles and human-machine interface formations, ensuring our systems are capable of meeting emerging customer needs in those areas. EOS designs, builds and operates its own systems, meaning we are always prepared and agile to deliver custom solutions for emerging needs.
ESD: Why is EOS Defense Systems successful in the North American market? How does it retain its competitive edge?
Baerlocher: The precision and accuracy of our RWS solutions are rooted in EOS’ heritage in laser tracking technology, where we can detect and track space objects as small as 10 cm in diameter. We’ve adapted and downscaled this technology to form ground and C-UAS applications, delivering consistent first-hit probability at long ranges. For instance, our R400 RWS can reliably engage ground targets up 2000 m away with a 30 mm cannon. Our advanced software further enhances accuracy by optimising ballistic calculations for specific ammunition and cannon pairings across a vast range of vehicles. This blend of proven technology and high-performance software gives EOS a clear edge in accuracy, range and reliability and is a real game-changer when it comes to warfighter capability.
ESD: How do the requirements in the Americas market differ from those in Middle East/North Africa (MENA) or Asia-Pacific (APAC)? In your experience, why do you think many companies ignore these differences, while EOS appreciates these variables?
Baerlocher: EOS’ global reach gives us a distinct advantage in adapting to the unique requirements of different markets, including the Americas, MENA and APAC. Each region varies in terms of platform sophistication and command-and-control or battle management system capabilities in service. While all customers seek maximum firepower and capability, specific needs and budgets can vary significantly. EOS is well positioned to address these diverse requirements, offering systems in multiple configurations that can be tailored to each customer’s needs – all while operating on a common operating system. This means operators trained on one system can easily transition to others with minimal cross-training.
ESD: Thank you, sir, for your time and unique expert insights.
