Leonardo will supply Lockheed Martin Canada with four OTO 127/64 LightWeight (LW) Vulcano naval weapon systems, including the automatic ammunition supply platform, for the new ships of the Canadian Navy. The agreement, part of the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program, provides for the installation of three systems on board the new units and the use of the fourth for training activities.
The Canadian Surface Combatant program, which involves the construction of fifteen multi-mission ships by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. at the Halifax shipyard in Nova Scotia, is part of the larger long-term project, the National Shipbuilding Strategy, aimed at renewing the entire fleet Canadian.
Already chosen by six Marines in the last ten years, the OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano is the best performing system on the market and is equipped with a highly flexible architecture that allows it to be installed on all types of platforms. State-of-the-art technology and complete digitalization guarantee constant support to operators and the on-board Combat Management System (CMS) for the calculation of possible shooting solutions during mission planning.
The system is the only one in the world capable of perfectly integrating Leonardo's Vulcano 127mm ammunition, both in the Guided Long Range (GLR) and in the Ballistic Extended Range (BER) version. In addition, the 4AP fuze for conventional ammunition guarantees high operational flexibility thanks to the ability to program the specific configuration of the mission.
The OTO 127/64 LW Vulcano can operate effectively even in the absence of a crew thanks to the Automatic Ammunition Handling System (AAHS), which allows the system to be automatically fed with both Vulcano and conventional ammunition.
Canada is a key market for Leonardo with various commercial opportunities ranging from naval systems to helicopters, from control and management solutions for airports to logistics. With a consolidated relationship of partnership for more than 50 years and with more than 400 employees in the country, the company is a leader in the supply of products, skills and expertise in the defense sector, thanks to innovative technologies and integrated services. Leonardo is also strongly committed to supporting the Canadian defense industry in the long term and constantly supporting local businesses. Active in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Leonardo DRS has been supplying advanced naval communication, surveillance and energy conversion systems to the Canadian Navy for over 30 years.
The new contract will have a positive impact on the local defense industry and its supply chain thanks to the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, which assigns a series of returns in terms of employment, innovation, economic growth in the country in the face of tenders won in the specific sector. In this context, the participation of the Leonardo DRS plant in Ottawa is envisaged for the production of some system components, thus contributing to the commitments required by the ITB policy. Leonardo will also invest in the development of local small and medium-sized enterprises, involving potential partner companies present in Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces. The company is also working on the definition of collaborations with universities and research centers.
The drive to create value through the implementation of sustainability principles is at the heart of "Be Tomorrow-Leonardo 2030", the strategic plan aimed at defining new business opportunities and achieving sustainable development goals (Sustainable Development Goals) of the UN, leveraging technological innovation and key competences.
