NATO naval forces counter Huthi drone threats with precision gunfire
The Huthis primarily employ Qasef or Samad series drones. The Qasef drone measures about 2.5 metres in length and approximately 3 metres in wingspan. It has a range of 150 kilometres and can carry around 30 kilograms of payload. The Samad is a larger design capable of travelling between 500 and 1500 kilometres and can carry payloads up to 40 kilograms.
These drones are simple, equipped with GPS and/or INS navigation, and follow a pre-planned path. Thus, they can only target static or very slow-moving objects.
Using CAMM or Aster-15/30 missiles, which cost millions of pounds, to shoot down such targets is considered wasteful. Thus, where possible, crews on French and Italian ships have started engaging drones with 76/62 Super Rapido (SR) naval guns.
It's important to note that precision DART ammunition isn't used; instead, the most standard fragmentation-explosive rounds are employed. Hitting these targets requires almost sniper-like precision, but the fire control system and the crew's skill are up to the challenge, as demonstrated in the examples cited. In such shootdowns, the cost per unit is just a few thousand pounds.
Leonardo OTO 76/62 mm Super Rapido — a multi-purpose essential for NATO ships
The Italian naval gun, Leonardo OTO 76/62 mm Super Rapido, has practically become the standard on ships of NATO countries. It weighs 7,900 kilograms (without ammunition), is cooled by seawater, and can fire up to 120 rounds per minute.
Depending on the ammunition used, it can engage surface, land, or airborne targets. Standard fragmentation-explosive rounds allow for engaging surface or land targets up to 16 kilometres away. The range for airborne targets is not specified, but it will undoubtedly be less than the 8 kilometres declared for the anti-aircraft DART rounds.
Similar to Starstreak missiles, these guided rounds contain tungsten darts that destroy targets with kinetic energy. They are highly effective, even against fast-moving targets.
The system can also fire Vulcano 76 rounds with a range of up to 40 kilometres. These sub-calibre projectiles are similar to those used in Vulcano GLR 155 artillery rounds.
This diverse ammunition selection endows the Leonardo OTO 76/62 mm Super Rapido gun with considerable versatility, evident during missions in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.
