WASHINGTON, D.C. –- Responding to the need to make gun shields easier to transport on vehicles, BAE Systems developed the Marine Corps Transparent Armored Gun Shield – Reducible (MCTAGS-R), a gunner protection system collapsible for shipment. The new gun shield will be on display at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2011 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C.

The patent pending MCTAGS-R is the first height reducible gunner protection kit designed to meet vehicle shipping height requirements. MCTAGS-R is part of the BAE Systems Modular Gunner Protection System family of protective armaments and provides the same level of protection from small arms and IED fragments as the currently fielded MCTAGS kit. MCTAGS-R can be adapted to any tactical vehicle.

“The unique system allows the gun shield to collapse for storage during transport by ship, air and rail by reducing the height of the system to just six inches above the top of a vehicle,” said Justin Stone, MCTAGS-R program manager at BAE Systems. “We listened to the needs and concerns of our customers to design this new collapsible gun shield that provides a high-level of protection for the gunner and makes transporting the shield much easier.”

The gunner protection system enhances survivability by providing target acquisition capability and protection from small arms fire and improvised explosive device fragments. MCTAGS-R has been configured for installation on the M1114 and M1151 HMMWVs, Medium Vehicle Replacement, Logistic Vehicle System Replacement, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles and Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.

MCTAGS-R will be displayed on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at the BAE Systems booth #6043 during the AUSA 2011 Annual Meeting & Exposition, October 10 - 12 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.