Leonardo has unveiled its HITFIRE 155 mm artillery module that can be mounted on Iveco’s VBM NG 8x8 armoured vehicles as a proposal to the Italian Army.
Italy-based defence news site Rivisita Italiana Difesa reported that Leonardo proposed the HITFIRE 155 mm artillery module to the Italian Army in response to the call for a 8x8 self-propelled artillery. The artillery module, packaged as an unmanned turret with a 155 mm L52 gun, RCWS, and autoloader, is compatible for use onboard the VBM NG 8x8 armoured vehicles.
With a weight of 13 tonnes, the HITFIRE allows fitting on VBM NG without exceeding the gross weight limit. Compared to its German counterpart with similar characteristics, Rch-155, the overall system is slightly lighter. The turret can carry 30 rounds with 120 modular gunpowder charges. Available ammunition also includes the VULCANO GPS/INS guided round for 155 mm artillery.
Compared to truck-based SPGs, this emerging line of SPGs using unmanned turrets can operate swifter without exposing the crew. On the other hand, when used on 8x8 AFVs with high mobility, there is also an advantage over traditional tracked SPGs in terms of mobility.
One lesson from the war in Ukraine is the fact that artillery crews end up easily getting hit by UAV attacks due to their exposure, and keeping the crew inside can be beneficial to survival rates.
However, due to the higher cost of these systems, simpler artillery systems -mounted on trucks or towed- are more than likely to remain mainstream for the foreseeable future.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
