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16 April 2015

LAAD 2015: Finmeccanica-OTO Melara Details Involvement in Brazil

On Wednesday 15 April at LAAD 2015, OTO Melara presented its naval solution for the needs of the Brazil Navy.

OTO Melara builds the 76/62 Super Rapid Multi Feeding (SRMF) guns (also on GOWIND class Corvettes of the Egyptian Navy). The 76/62 SRMF represents the latest evolution of this system that now, besides the high rate of fire of 120 rounds per minute, can also automatically choose, among the different ammunition loaded in its magazine, the most appropriate one according to the mission that the gun must carry out.

In June 2014, after successful firing tests on a SKJOLD-class vessel of the Royal Norwegian Navy, Finmeccanica-OTO Melara signed a contract with NAMMO for the delivery of the 3AP fuze to the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organization (NDLO). The 3AP fuze is a digital multifunctional fuze which makes engagements with 76mm naval HE shells more cost-effective. The fuze can be set before firing in three main modes: proximity, impact and time. In proximity engagements, the innovative fuze design allows the 3AP to detect distant targets, reduce unpredicted triggering and evaluate the optimal burst point depending on the target type. The fuze integrates a time setting which makes air-burst and point saturation engagements possible, and maximizes the fuze robustness against electro-magnetic and sea-clutter disturbances in proximity engagements. The 3AP fuze has been sold in more than 10 000 units. The fuze is qualified according to STANAG and MIL standards; it is safe to use and can be used on any 76mm shell compliant with STANAG 2916.

Within the acquisition programme of new corvettes (TAMANDARE), the Brazilian Navy has recently selected the 76/62mm Super Rapid naval gun mount as the main armament to be installed on board, regardless of the shipyard that will build the vessels. This choice represents both a great success for Finmeccanica-OTO Melara, since none of its guns are presently in service with the Brazilian Navy, and a further confirmation of the validity of the 76/62mm gun that has now been sold to 60 Navies in the world. OTO Melara selected and announced at LAAD that Miel (final assembly line for 76 mm SR naval gun) and EMGEPRON (76 mm ammunition – with the transfer of technology from OTO Melara and production in Brazil) are their partner in naval programmes of Latin America.

OTO Melara do Brazil and ARES Aeroespacial e Defesa have recently signed a commitment for the creation of a partnership, joining efforts for the supply of OTO Melara 105/120 mm modular HITFACT turrets for the GUARANI 8x8 VBR-MR program, according to the Request For Proposal (RFP) recently issued by the Brazilian Army Manufacturing Directorate. As options the turret can be equipped with a canisters UAV launch system, add-on armour (protection level up to 4/5) and active protection. At the moment the Brazilian army is only looking at the 105 mm, not the 120 mm – but because it is a modular turret that could change in the future.

In this first part of the programme, that includes the supply of one prototype and 13 pilot phase turrets (100+ planed for series production), the high value of local content and nationalization will be emphasized by ARES supply of various important components, including the Optronic systems, that are already installed on the UT30 and REMAX turrets on GUARANI 6x6 vehicles, guaranteeing the logistic commonality among these three systems, and by IMBEL local contents (the company of Juiz de Fora) as the final assembler of the 105 mm turrets. IMBEL has signed with OTO Melara Italy and OTO do Brazil an Industrial Agreement that foresees the transfer of technology for the related activities inclusive the full life in-service-support of the supplied systems.

In the end 60% of the workshare should be national content from Brazil (starting at 20% in the beginning). From Brazil and through its partners OTO Melara want to export to all other Latin America countries, turrets from 12.7 mm to 155 mm.

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