The US Air Force has certified personnel at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS), expanding the pool of qualified operators for installation security.
The 39th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) stationed at the base provides force protection and law enforcement support for US and NATO personnel in the region.
Training and certification took place at Aviano Air Base in Italy, facilitated by the 31st SFS Combat Arms Training and Maintenance unit, which provided equipment, range access, and safety oversight.
The milestone builds on a June 2025 US Air Forces in Europe instructor course at the same site, from which the initial 39th SFS trainees returned as instructors.
Evaluations added 10 more personnel in total, reinforcing the security capabilities and overall base defense strategy at Incirlik.
“This enhances the combat readiness and depth of every security forces flight,” 39th SFS CROWS Instructor Staff Sgt. Quinton Burts stated. “The true impact is a substantial increase in the lethality and survivability of our Defenders.
“A CROWS-qualified team can respond to threats faster, more accurately and with greater force while remaining protected. This creates a more agile and decisive security posture for the entire installation.”
Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station
Developed by Norwegian defense contractor Kongsberg, CROWS is a vehicle-mounted remote weapon system that uses a laser rangefinder and cameras to improve range, precision, and lethality while keeping gunners safe during base and airfield defense.
It supports the integration of .50-caliber heavy machine guns, light incendiary guns, and grenade launchers.
It provides 360-degree coverage and allows 25 times zoom on targets moving at 20 miles (32 kilometers) per hour.
Washington has fielded over 18,000 CROWS units across more than 20 vehicle variants within the US joint forces.
