Leonardo to equip Canadian Surface Combatants with naval guns

Leonardo has been awarded a contract to supply to Lockheed Martin four OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano naval guns for the Royal Canadian Navy’s new multi-role combat ships.

The deal also includes the automatic ammunition handling system (AAHS) as an optional solution.

As informed, the first three systems will be installed on board the new naval units, while the fourth will be used for training activities.

The Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC) will be built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. at the Halifax shipyard in Nova Scotia. The CSC programme aims to build 15 multi-mission combat ships as part of the broader National Shipbuilding Strategy, a long-term project focusing on the renewal of the entire Canadian fleet. 

The CSC fleet will cost C$77.3 billion, a recently released report found.

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. has engaged Lockheed Martin Canada to lead the design team, a consortium of companies that includes MDA, CAE, L3 Harris, Ultra, BAE and many other suppliers that will design the ship and integrate the CSC’s combat management system.

The OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano

Already chosen by six navies in the last ten years, the OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano is equipped with a highly flexible architecture that allows installation on all types of platforms.

Its technology and complete digitalization ensure continuous assistance to operators and constant support to the onboard combat management system (CMS) through the calculation of possible shooting solutions during mission planning, according to Leonardo.

This system is integrated with the Vulcano 127mm ammunition, both in the guided long range (GLR) and the ballistic extended range (BER) versions. Additionally, Leonardo’s 4AP fuze for conventional ammunition is said to ensure high operational flexibility based on its mission-specific configuration programmability features.

The OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano operates effectively even in the absence of a crew, thanks to AAHS solution, which guarantees automatic gun reloading by managing both Vulcano long-range precision strike and conventional ammunition simultaneously.