Leonardo Unveils Cutting-Edge Innovations for Mastering the Maritime Landscape at Euronaval
Leonardo’s ongoing commitment and accumulated expertise in the maritime industry empower it to fulfill every demand for any vessel type, class, and size, while adapting to the developments in operations within a multi-domain naval environment.
A pivotal player in the provision of high-technology products and solutions, Leonardo is participating in the Euronaval exhibition, commencing tomorrow in Paris, showcasing its innovations for the naval sector. These advancements are the outcome of sustained investments and versatile skills that have established the company as a vital ally of the Italian Navy and a benchmark for various naval forces globally, with its systems now embedded on over 1,000 maritime platforms.
Leonardo’s portfolio of offerings, designed to address all needs for the effective management of any vessel type, class, and size, includes sophisticated and modular technologies ranging from sensors, radar, and communication systems to armament solutions for surface and subsurface units. This also encompasses fixed-wing and rotorcraft – with over 500 Leonardo helicopters operational today across more than thirty nations for maritime tasks – and unmanned aerial vehicles. The rise of new digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, automation, and data analytics allows these systems to effectively adapt to the ongoing transformation of operations in the progressively multi-domain maritime landscape.
Specifically, the company is unveiling some of its advanced combat systems management technologies which equip, among other assets, the ‘Full’ configuration of the Italian Navy’s Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessels (MOPV). This includes the open-architecture, modular, and reconfigurable Combat Management System (CMS), which integrates and coordinates all data from various sensors in real-time – providing complete situational awareness and instantaneous reaction capabilities – in any scenario, above or below water. The pioneering Naval Cockpit is also featured at Euronaval, again aboard new units, implementing advanced concepts in avionics to the naval field. These models were developed by Leonardo in partnership with the Italian Navy to alleviate crew workload in operating and monitoring a vessel, maximizing operational efficiency.
With one of the globe’s most extensive radar lineups satisfying the most rigorous standards for navigation, surveillance, detection, and air, surface, and missile defense, Leonardo is showcasing the KRONOS Family of radars at Euronaval. This includes the naval variant of the KRONOS Power Shield, a fully digital AESA warning sensor, designed to protect surface units from ballistic threats. The L-band sensor, featuring advanced ATBM capabilities, boasts a detection range of up to 1,500 kilometers. The high-performance OSPREY 30 electronic scanning radar for marine surveillance, already selected by numerous international clients, will also be displayed. This radar is particularly effective in mixed operational environments like coastal regions.
Complementing these solutions is the ULISSES (Ultra Light SonicS Enhanced System) acoustic sensor, developed by Leonardo to enhance effectiveness in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) operations on fixed- and rotary-wing maritime patrol aircraft by minimizing weight and dimensions, along with the Black Scorpion lightweight torpedo, crafted to operate at maximum efficacy and minimal cost. During the exhibition, Leonardo is also showcasing the features of the new next-generation electro-optical system DSS-IRST (Distributed Static Staring-InfraRed Search and Tracking System), engineered to provide larger naval units with optimal protection against diverse surface, missile, and aerial dangers.
In the realm of unmanned systems, Leonardo is presenting in Paris a full-scale model of the AWHERO helicopter outfitted with the Gabbiano Ultra-Light maritime radar. AWHERO epitomizes the latest advancements in 200 kg class rotary UAS systems, designed explicitly for onboard operations, effectively leveraging Leonardo’s expertise and superior technologies. AWHERO’s modular design allows for interchangeability with a wide range of sensors, including Leonardo’s Gabbiano Ultra-Light radar, a pivotal component in ensuring maritime surveillance dominance. Already effectively utilized during the Leonardo-led OCEAN 2020 demonstration initiative, AWHERO stands as the only UAS in its category with military certification, assuring top-tier reliability and mission readiness.
In the munitions domain, Leonardo – a global frontrunner in the design, development, and production of small, medium, and large-caliber naval firearms (12.7 to 127mm) – is in Paris with its Lionfish line of small-caliber systems, entirely designed and developed internally. It is also presenting its DART (Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of Flight) guided munitions, effective against agile missiles and minor targets. Notably, the Vulcano family of munitions in 76 and 127 versions is worth mentioning, a product line already embraced by several navies globally, ensuring comprehensive surface superiority and effective air defense.
