Italy likely to buy $27 million LMV vehicle gun turrets from Oto Melara

Oto Melara is likely to sign a contract with the Italian government to supply 64 Hitrole Light remote controlled gun turrets for mounting on Italy’s Light Multirole Vehicles, said an Oto Melara official . The CEO of Oto Melara, Carlo Alberto Iardella said at DSEi 2009 show that the order is worth 18.8 million euros ($27 million). Italy has deployed its Iveco LMV vehicles to Afghanistan with a roof hatch through which a soldier mans a machine gun. That policy was questioned in Italy in July after an LMV gunner was killed when the vehicle was hit by an IED in Afghanistan. A competition to find a remote controlled gun turret had previously been launched in May. On July 30, days after the attack, Oto Melara’s turret was given preliminary approval by the Italian government. The firm, which is a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica, was the only company to enter the competition, said Carlo Alberto Iardella. The company spokeswoman added that the orginal requirement had stood at 83 turrets, but based on the funding made available, Oto Melara offered 64 turrets, which was accepted. Each turret will come supplied with interchangeable 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine guns as well as a 40mm grenade launcher. The turrets also feature a thermal camera, laser range finder and TV camera supplied by Selex Galileo. Oto Melara expects to supply the first turret four months after a contract signing, with trials by the customer to follow. The firm then expects to conclude deliveries six to seven months after the first delivery. An official at Iveco, which builds the LMV, revealed at DSEi on Tuesday that the firm had meanwhile received a separate, rushed order in August for around 60 protective guards for LMV vehicle gunners. The system consists of a cylinder of composite material to protect the gunner on a ring mount. Oto Melara CEO Iardella said that some LMVs would get the protective guards supplied by Iveco and others the remote control turrets supplied by Oto Melara. “There will be a mix of both solutions,” he said.