Drone-Proof: Leonardo Presents Unmanned 155mm Artillery Turret

On November 26, Leonardo presented its new 155mm HITFIRE artillery turret at the Nettuno training range near Rome.

The system is designed for use on both wheeled and tracked platforms and could be offered to the Italian army as part of its 8×8 self-propelled gun program, RID reports.

The first HITFIRE demonstrator, developed over the past 18 months, fired several rounds at the range. The tests were conducted with army officers present on the first day, followed by journalists the next day.

Leonardo plans to build the first prototype by mid-2026 and complete industrial qualification by late 2026 or early 2027.

The HITFIRE turret is fully unmanned and fitted with a 155/52 mm cannon designed by Leonardo, along with a new automatic loading system.

It is designed for installation on the VBM NG platform but is also compatible with other wheeled and tracked vehicles, including trucks.
The system is notable for its low weight: a fully equipped HITFIRE weighs less than 13 tons.

The turret carries 30 shells and 180 modular charges, and the automatic loader enables a rate of fire of up to 10 rounds per minute. It is also compatible with VULCANO precision-guided ammunition.

The design allows firing on the move, with 360-degree turret rotation.

Magazines for shells and charges are positioned symmetrically on both sides of the system. They can be automatically restocked using a dedicated logistics conveyor with robotic manipulators.

HITFIRE is equipped with modern electronics based on the NGVA architecture, also used in the A2CS/AICS programs. This ensures integration with other systems and a high degree of automation.

For self-defense, including against drones, HITFIRE can be fitted with a remotely operated HITROLE turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun or a 30 mm BLAZE cannon, both developed by Leonardo.