The Hitrole is a remote weapons station manufactured by Italian arms company Oto Melara (merged into Leonardo S.p.A., previously Finmeccanica since 2016). [1] The "role" portion of the name is short for "Remotely Operated, Light Electrical".
The turret can mount a variety of lighter automatic weapons, including 5.56 mm (0.219 in), 7.62 mm (0.300 in), and 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns, and 40 mm (1.6 in) automatic grenade launchers. [1] [2]
Leonardo recently presented the new line of Lionfish remote-controlled small-caliber systems, which consists of four models: the Ultralight, the Inner Reloading and the Top with a 12.7 mm caliber, and the 20 model with a 20 mm caliber. [3]
The weapon is gyroscopically stabilized. [4] The turret weighs 210–260 kilograms (460–570 lb), depending on the weapon fitted. The gunner's remote optics add an infrared camera and laser range finder to a regular visible light camera.
The gunner is assisted with a fire control computer. [4] [5] The fire control computer can help the gunner track moving targets.
In 2009 the Italian Army ordered 81 turrets to equip its Iveco Lince vehicles in Afghanistan. [5]
According to Jane's Navy International the Singapore Navy ordered Hitrole turrets in August 2013. [6] A total of 16 turrets were ordered for Singapore's eight Littoral Mission Vessels.
Platforms using the Oto-Melara Hitrole include:
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OTO Melara was a subsidiary of the Italian company Finmeccanica, today Leonardo, active in the defence sector, with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. The Mod 56 pack howitzer, in service throughout the world, and the 76mm naval gun, adopted by 53 navies and installed on over 1,000 naval vessels, are among OTO Melara's best known weapons since World War II.
The Dardo is an infantry fighting vehicle designed for the Italian Army as a replacement for the M113 APC. It is designed and built by the Iveco Fiat Oto Melara Syndicated Company based in Rome. Iveco is responsible for the hull and propulsion systems, while Oto Melara is responsible for the weapons and fire control systems.
The OTO Melara 76 mm gun is a naval autocannon built and designed by the Italian defence company OTO Melara. It is based on the OTO Melara 76/62C and evolved toward 76/62 SR and 76/62 Strales.
The Puma is a family of Italian light wheeled armoured fighting vehicle family, consisting of the Puma 6×6 and the Puma 4×4. The vehicles were developed and are produced by the Consorzio Iveco Fiat – Oto Melara for the Italian Army. First prototypes completed in 1988, with a total of five testbed vehicles being completed by 1990.
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The Centauro is a family of Italian military vehicles originating from a wheeled tank destroyer for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance. It was developed by a consortium of manufacturers, the Società Consortile Iveco Fiat - OTO Melara (CIO). Iveco Fiat was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon systems.
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The 76mm/L62 Allargato is a single barrel, medium caliber, dual purpose automatic naval cannon designed and produced in the 1960s by the Italian defence firm of OTO-Melara as the cannon armament for all medium and large warships built for the Italian Navy in that decade. Currently, the gun remains in service with Italy's Cassiopea-class patrol vessels but has otherwise been largely replaced by the Otobreda 76 mm series of cannons.
ARM Oaxaca (PO-161) is the lead ship of the Oaxaca class of patrol vessels, constructed by and for the Mexican Navy.
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The 152 mm /55 Model 1934–1936 were built for the Italian Navy in the years before World War II. These guns were used on the Duca degli Abruzzi-class Light cruisers, which were the final series of the Condottieri-class cruisers as their primary armament and as secondary armament on the Littorio-class battleships.
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Hitfist OWS is a remotely operated turret, for armored vehicles, developed by the Italian Oto Melara and derived from Hitfist.
Oto Melara Hitfist is a two-man turret, for armored vehicles, developed by the Italian Oto Melara. The turrets are designed to mount a 25mm Oerlikon KBA or 30/40mm ATK Mk44 Bushmaster II autocannon. The main armament may mount a co-axial machine gun. A variant allows the operator to aim and fire anti-tank missiles.
OTO claims that both systems are better protected than rival RWSs.
The HITROLE Light FCS consists of a modular sighting system including a Day TV camera, an IR camera for night vision and an eye safe LRF. The FCS architecture is open and provides growth potential for system upgrade. Both sighting system and firing are computer assisted and operated from a protected position inside the vehicle through a multi function display and joystick.
The Italian Army has ordered 81 Hitrole Light remote controlled weapon stations for its Iveco Lince vehicles in response to increased IED attacks in Afghanistan, according to the Italian Ministry of Defense.
Oto Melara has been selected to supply its Hitrole 12.7 mm remotely controlled weapon station to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) under a contract revealed in Finmeccanica's 2013 first-half results, published on 1 August.
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has generic name (help)In response to the stringent requirements of the emerging warfare, the 12,7 Hitrole Naval systems have been conceived to produce the top level of performance, including when operating in synergy with the other cooperating equipments.
On the 1st of September 2011 Oto Melara signed a contract with the Mexican Navy for the supply of 5 turrets Hitrole N 12.7 and the related logistic support, to be delivered within the year 2012.