Oto
Melara DART/STRALES 76mm guided ammunition successfully tested
The first lot of DART/STRALES 76mm guided ammunition, produced by OTO
Melara, was successfully tested at the end of March. The firing trials
were conducted on board one of the Italian Navy’s ships equipped
with Strales 76mm SR and Selex NA25 fire control system.
The firing trials were conducted with quick bursts of fire against fast,
manoeuvring and non-manoeuvring, radio controlled targets at low and
very low altitude and at a range of more than 5000 metres.
Oto Melara
76mm Strales system
(Picture: Oto Melara)
The customers
who attended the firing trials, which included the cooperation of other
Navy’s air-sea craft, were fully satisfied with the trials’results
which confirm the quality, reliability and effectiveness of this revolutionary
defence system.
The company’s top management commented on the videos saying that
they are a clear evidence of the system’s effectiveness.
The Strales 76mm system with DART guided ammunition is the only weapon
system in the world which can ensure high level performance (at a lower
cost than dedicated anti-missile systems) in the engagement of manouevring
supersonic missiles with high lateral g force. The system is very effective
also in the engagement of fast manouevring little boats.
Oto
Melara 76mm Strales Naval Gun System
(Video: Oto Melara)
The DART
projectiles are guided by a radio beam that follows the target by means
of homing system. The projectile is fitted with a proximity fuze, but
there were many hits during the firing trials.
The 76mm naval gun with Strales kit has the same characteristics of
ballistic ammunition when it is used to engage air, naval and surface
targets; with Vulcano ammunition it will ensure high precision target
engagement, with a fire range two times higher than conventional ammunition.
The Strales system can be installed on the 76mm naval guns which are
already in service.
OTO Melara is planning the production of Strales kits and new ammunition
lots to guarantee quick delivery to new customers who will ask for this
innovative system.
At present 12 Strales 76mm systems are in service, 15 are going to be
delivered, and orders for 30 systems are foreseen in the next 5 years.
