Date: Issue 123 - July 2023
Leonardo has launched two new turrets for naval and land defence. The turrets, the LIONFISH® 30 and the HITFIST® 30 UL bring advanced new capabilities and performance to their respective product families. Both remote-controlled turrets integrate the new 30mm X-GUN, an ITAR-free, electrically powered weapon system developed in-house by Leonardo, which incorporates innovative, patented technologies.
The LIONFISH® 30 naval turret joins Leonardo’s range of small-caliber LIONFISH® products, which includes the 12.7mm Ultralight, Inner Reloading, and Top models, as well as a 20mm version. The 30’s compact and lightweight design allows for installation on small platforms, enabling protection from all types of asymmetric threats, including drones and helicopters, within complex scenarios with multiple targets or multi-targets. This capability is driven by sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms that perform contextual analysis and optimize engagement against multiple simultaneous threats. Other distinctive features include a fast rate of fire, long operating range, and the ability to use new-concept high-efficiency air burst ammunition (AHEAD - Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction), which is designed to be more effective against aerial threats such as mini and micro-sized drones. The system shares a number of features with other LIONFISH family models, including architecture, its ability to be controlled remotely via a high-resolution local console, and its ease of use and maintenance. The new turret is also equipped with an electro-optical suite that enables 360° surveillance and tracking.