At this year’s SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida, the American company AimLock and FN America unveiled the “Dune” weapon station. It was mounted on the SXV-XL-6×6 terrain vehicle from BC Customs. The “Dune” solution integrates AimLock’s autonomy suite—designed for networked, multi-layered systems for UAS defense (C-UAS)—into FN America’s or FN Herstal’s remotely operated weapon station (RWS) Defender Medium.
During the show, the “Dune” solution could be seen on the SXV-XL-6×6 in the outdoor area of the Tampa Convention Center. The SXV 6×6 is a specially developed, rugged UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle) capable of carrying a payload of up to 2,040 kilograms and featuring a loading area of about 4.3 square meters. Moreover, thanks to its “Roll-on/Roll-off” capability, it can be easily transported inside a transport helicopter such as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook or comparable (air-transportable in the MV-22 and CH-53).
4×4 variant of the SXV already in use by US special forces
Powered by a durable Cummins R2.8 turbodiesel engine and robust drive components, the vehicle delivers high performance – including acceleration from 0 to 96 km/h in under twelve seconds. At the same time, it is noted for its suitability for rapid deployments as well as for infiltration and extraction operations, without requiring additional stabilization gear. The SRTV-SXV 4×4 variant of the vehicle has been in use by US Air Force special forces for several years.
As part of the “Dune” solution, AimLock’s systems — based on the company’s own “Keystone Core Targeting Module” (CTM) — assist the FN Defender Medium RWS in ensuring precise automatic target acquisition across a broad spectrum of key missions: from UAS defense (C-UAS) and protection of own forces (Force Protection) to direct action (Direct Action) and integrated defense up to anti-armor strikes (Strike Anti Armor) and fire support (Support by Fire).
The FN Defender Medium RWS
The FN Defender Medium RWS was developed to fulfill the mission of protecting one’s own forces — through fire support and self-defense — when mounted on light, medium or heavy vehicles. It can be equipped with a wide variety of weapon types and expanded with features such as laser rangefinding, stabilization and ballistic protection, allowing it to adapt to different deployment requirements.
In combination with AimLock’s Keystone CTM, which merges sensor fusion with advanced fire control and artificial intelligence, the FN Defender Medium within the “Dune” solution enables the detection, classification and tracking of targets (such as small unmanned aerial systems/UAS), the automatic calculation of firing solutions, and monitoring of target engagement.
AimLock aims to upgrade existing platforms
“As our global partners modernize their military capabilities in the face of the increasing spread of small UAS, it is crucial to provide them with solutions that do not require a complete overhaul of their systems, but instead upgrade the platforms already in place,” said Bryan Bockmon, CEO of AimLock. “The Dune solution — which combines AimLock’s proven target acquisition and engagement technology with FN’s long-standing tradition of developing highly advanced remotely operated weapon systems — meets the needs of armed forces worldwide as the battlefield evolves in real time.”
The Dune solution includes, in detail:
- The AimLock Autonomy Suite for networked, staged C-UAS defense systems
- a retrofit kit for the FN Defender Medium
- Compatibility with weapons of calibers 30 x 113 mm, 12.7 x 99 mm and 40 x 53 mm
- programmable airburst ammunition, proximity-fuzed ammunition, and conventional ammunition.
