Italy Leonardo
127/64 LW (Vulcano System)
127mm/64-caliber lightweight naval gun reaching up to 120 km with Vulcano guided ammunition, fitted to Italian FREMM frigates and Germany's new F126-class frigates.
6 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-18
Pricing: Fitted to Italian FREMM frigates and OPVs, Germany's Baden-Wurttemberg-class and F126-class frigates, Egyptian MEKO/FREMM frigates, and Algerian, Netherlands and Indonesian navy ships
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Italian export-licensed
UAMA authorisation; standard EU/Wassenaar controls.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 6 operators
Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Overview
The 127/64 LW (Lightweight) is Leonardo's (formerly Oto Melara) medium-caliber naval gun for large and medium surface combatants, marketed together with its Automated Ammunition Handling System, Naval Fire Control Support and the Vulcano family of guided ammunition as the '127/64 LW - Vulcano System'. Design work completed in 2005 and production began around 2012. Its four modular automatic-feed drum magazines each carry one ready round plus 13 stored rounds, for 56 rounds available without manual reloading. Rate of fire is a moderate 32 rounds/minute, traded off against the older 54-caliber gun for improved fire control and reduced barrel wear. Standard unguided ammunition reaches roughly 30 km, while Vulcano long-range guided rounds extend engagement out to a stated 70-120 km depending on round type. It arms the Italian Navy's FREMM frigates and offshore patrol vessels, Germany's Baden-Wurttemberg-class and new F126-class frigates, Egypt's MEKO-class and FREMM frigates, and vessels of the Algerian, Netherlands and Indonesian navies. It is a larger-caliber, longer-range sibling to Leonardo's 76/62 Super Rapid gun already in this catalog, not a variant of it.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability. | 32 rpm |
|---|---|
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 808 m/s |
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 120 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 127 mm |
|---|---|
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 56 |
| Max firing range Maximum range of the main gun or rocket artillery (with assisted/extended-range munitions where noted). Higher extends reach. | 120 km |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 8.13 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 33,000 kg |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 6 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Leonardo and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-18.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) Frequently asked questions
What is the engagement range of the Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System)? +
The Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) has a maximum engagement range of 120 km.
How much does the Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) weigh? +
The Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) has a combat weight of 33,000 kg.
What is the Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) used for? +
The Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) is a other typically used for naval gunfire support, anti surface, shore bombardment.
How many countries operate the Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System)? +
The Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) is operated by 6 countries.
How much does the Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System) cost? +
Leonardo 127/64 LW (Vulcano System): Fitted to Italian FREMM frigates and OPVs, Germany's Baden-Wurttemberg-class and F126-class frigates, Egyptian MEKO/FREMM frigates, and Algerian, Netherlands and Indonesian navy ships. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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