CSC: Canada buys OTO Melara/Leonardo 127mm/64 LW gun

David Dunlop, 23 April 2021

Canada has just chosen the OTO Melara 127/64 LW Vulcano gun system from Leonardo for at least the first 3 CSC Type 26 Frigates. A contract was signed yesterday, 21 April 2021, with the Leonardo company for 4 of these gun systems (3 for installation and 1 for training). So what about the rest of the Frigates? Does this mean the other 12 CSC Frigates  will receive the BAE MK 45 Mod 4 naval gun? Why not buy all 15 OTO Melara 127/64 LW gun systems for every CSC Frigate or does this mean just an initial purchase with other contracts to follow? The gun is certainly lighter than the MK 45 but most likely more expensive. Weight and cost seem to be an issue here. The Leonardo OTO Melara 127/64 LW Vulcano gun will also offer the CSC Frigates the ability to fire extended-range, precision-guided munitions – both in guided long-range and the ballistic extended-range versions, as well as conventional 5” ammunition. The purchase report can be seen below: https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/leonardo-to-supply-12764-lw-gun-systems-for-csc-frigate-programme

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