BAAINBw press release
The BAAINBw together with the German Navy and two of military technical offices have successfully demonstrated that the new 127 mm Vulcano ammunition can be introduced into the German armed forces.
Careful preparation enables successful tests
Acceptance shooting was carried out on the north coast of Norway with the frigate Rheinland-Pfalz to demonstrate the precision of the new ammunition.
While the crew of the frigate maneuvered their ship into the assigned firing position, the previously installed measuring and recording technology could be started in the target area. Several boats, together with aerial reconnaissance, secured the adjacent access roads and thus prevented foreign ships from entering the danger area.
The Defense Technical Service Center for Ships and Naval Weapons, Maritime Technology and Research, WTD Defense Technical Service 71 for short, and the Defense Technical Service for Weapons and Ammunition, WTD Defense Technical Service 91, accompanied the entire project with their experts and the necessary complex technology.
The result was known shortly after the projectiles were fired. Several Vulcano projectiles struck just a few yards apart in the immediate vicinity of the target marker. Both the responsible project manager in the BAAINBwFederal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr and the Navy were then able to confirm the required precision of the new ammunition.
What’s next?
After the so-called “approval for use” has been granted this year, the procurement of the new floors will also start quickly and will probably be completed by the end of 2026.
-End-
Naval News comments:
Vulcano is a family of extended range ammunition designed by Italy’s Leonardo in partnership with Diehl for the 76mm, 127mm naval guns and 155mm land artillery systems. It is available in two variants: An unguided projectile called BER (Ballistic Extended Range) and a guided one called GLR (Guided Long Range).
According to Leonardo, the main application of the Vulcano 127 GLR (which was just qualified with the German Navy) is for long range, high accuracy fire support against stationary and moving point targets with extremely reduced likelihood of collateral damage and also for precise surface engagements against moving ships.
Vulcano 127 GLR will be deployed from the German Navy’s F125 and F126 frigates. It is already in service with the Italian Navy’s FREMM GP and PPA
BAE Systems was cooperating with Leonardo to pitch the Vulcano ammunition to users of the Mk45 mod 4 naval gun system and 155mm guns.
Vulcano 127 GLR main characteristics
- 127/64 cal range over 80 km
- Autonomous IMU + GPS guidance;
- CEP ≤ 5m on coordinate at any operative range;
- SAL terminal homing with CEP ≤3m on target at any
- operative range;
- IR terminal guidance;
- Precise bombardment firing;
- Notched HE warhead.
Update November 9, 2022
Leonardo issued the following press note:
Vulcano 127 guided ammunition from Diehl Defence and Leonardo for German Navy
The German Navy successfully completes the operational suitability test with frigate F125 – fielding starts now.
According to Italian and German governments’ requirements, the companies Diehl Defence and Leonardo developed and qualified the precision-guided ammunition family Vulcano 127 and 155 mm. Compatibility with all 127 mm and 155 mm weapon systems is ensured.
During the fielding, the German Navy successfully completed the operational suitability test of the Vulcano 127mm guided ammunition, fired from frigate F125 with Leonardo’s 127/64 Lightweight naval gun. This comprises the whole ammunition flow in the weapon, including programming and firing with proof of range and precision under operating conditions.
The Vulcano ammunition is designed to achieve extended ranges of 70 km for Vulcano 155 and 80 km for Vulcano 127 in conjunction with unique accuracy against stationary and moving targets.
Besides the basic configuration with a Height of Burst (HoB) sensor, other configurations were qualified, with terminal homing sensors SAL (Semi-Active Laser) and FarIR (Far Infrared), which are deployed against stationary and moving single targets with highest accuracy.
This makes the Vulcano family the most accurate artillery ammunition for land and naval applications worldwide.
The powerful multi-role, Insensitive High-Explosive (IHE) warhead with pre-fragmented tungsten splinters is most effective against soft targets, vehicles, semi-armored vehicles, infrastructures and all typical infantry command posts.
Thereby, not only the Italian Navy will be equipped with Vulcano 127 guided ammunition as these successful tests pave the way for the German Navy to adopt the system as well
