Compass Call
🇮🇹 VULCANO Top: 127mm Mid: 155mm Bottom: 76mm
Today we will talk about an Italian excellence, the VULCANO ammunition developed by the defense giant Leonardo, a system that is currently at the undisputed pinnacle of its category worldwide.
Studies for the development of hyper-extended range ammunition began in the early 2000s, initially for unguided versions, namely the BER (Ballistic Extended Range) family, which aimed to significantly increase the range of 155mm and 127mm artillery. We would have to wait until 2009 for the first guided versions.
Leonardo's VULCANO BER ammunition utilizes a new geometry to extend flight range. These are sub-caliber projectiles that fit 127mm and 155mm barrels thanks to sabots—diameter extenders that also serve to impart additional rotation to the projectile as it exits the barrel. The sabots are structured with slots arranged in such a way that the air forces the projectile to rotate just before the sabot separates and falls away (which happens almost immediately after exiting the muzzle).
The presence of stabilizing fins has further extended the range. The trade-off was a reduction in the explosive charge due to the smaller diameter of the actual projectile. This applied the principle of tank APFSDS (simple penetrators) to artillery, which requires HE (High Explosive) charges, thereby giving birth to a category of projectiles known as HEFSDS, which stands for "High Explosive Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot".
To put this into perspective, if we take an American M109 self-propelled howitzer, it would achieve a range of about 24 km with an ordinary projectile, and around 40 km with an Excalibur guidance kit. However, with an unguided Vulcano (BER) projectile, it would reach an impressive 50 km, which drops to 36 km if fired from a short-barreled cannon.
The leap in quality comes with the GLR (Guided Long Range) version, available in 76mm and 127mm naval calibers, 155mm land artillery, and since 2025, even in 120mm for main battle tanks.
In this version, the fired projectile is equipped with an inertial guidance system (accelerometer and gyroscope) coupled with a GPS guidance system. In the terminal phase of the flight, it activates a SAL (Semi-Active Laser) seeker; it begins to "search" for a target designated by a laser (which can be painted by a human, a drone, an aircraft, etc.) and starts maneuvering to hit it while in motion by following the laser. This allows it to strike tanks on their top armor, turning it into a standoff anti-tank weapon. Keep in mind, someone must designate the target with a laser.
There is also a 127mm version featuring a heat-seeking guidance system for precision anti-ship firing, but these are classified variants about which little is known.
The range of the guided Vulcano varies from 70 to 100 km for the 127mm and 155mm calibers, outclassing any other system in the world. Similar ammunition programs exist in China and South Korea, for example, but these are still under development rather than being a consolidated operational capability. In Ukraine, the PzH 2000s supplied by Italy and Germany regularly strike at distances over 70 km using guided ammunition, while the Italian Navy is among the very few capable of engaging other ships at 100-120 km with precise artillery fire.
Italy, Germany, Ukraine, and the United States are the operators of the VULCANO. Germany is currently integrating it into its Navy and opening domestic production lines with Diehl, while the US has ordered a new variant known as ERAP.
Studies for the development of hyper-extended range ammunition began in the early 2000s, initially for unguided versions, namely the BER (Ballistic Extended Range) family, which aimed to significantly increase the range of 155mm and 127mm artillery. We would have to wait until 2009 for the first guided versions.
Leonardo's VULCANO BER ammunition utilizes a new geometry to extend flight range. These are sub-caliber projectiles that fit 127mm and 155mm barrels thanks to sabots—diameter extenders that also serve to impart additional rotation to the projectile as it exits the barrel. The sabots are structured with slots arranged in such a way that the air forces the projectile to rotate just before the sabot separates and falls away (which happens almost immediately after exiting the muzzle).
The presence of stabilizing fins has further extended the range. The trade-off was a reduction in the explosive charge due to the smaller diameter of the actual projectile. This applied the principle of tank APFSDS (simple penetrators) to artillery, which requires HE (High Explosive) charges, thereby giving birth to a category of projectiles known as HEFSDS, which stands for "High Explosive Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot".
To put this into perspective, if we take an American M109 self-propelled howitzer, it would achieve a range of about 24 km with an ordinary projectile, and around 40 km with an Excalibur guidance kit. However, with an unguided Vulcano (BER) projectile, it would reach an impressive 50 km, which drops to 36 km if fired from a short-barreled cannon.
The leap in quality comes with the GLR (Guided Long Range) version, available in 76mm and 127mm naval calibers, 155mm land artillery, and since 2025, even in 120mm for main battle tanks.
In this version, the fired projectile is equipped with an inertial guidance system (accelerometer and gyroscope) coupled with a GPS guidance system. In the terminal phase of the flight, it activates a SAL (Semi-Active Laser) seeker; it begins to "search" for a target designated by a laser (which can be painted by a human, a drone, an aircraft, etc.) and starts maneuvering to hit it while in motion by following the laser. This allows it to strike tanks on their top armor, turning it into a standoff anti-tank weapon. Keep in mind, someone must designate the target with a laser.
There is also a 127mm version featuring a heat-seeking guidance system for precision anti-ship firing, but these are classified variants about which little is known.
The range of the guided Vulcano varies from 70 to 100 km for the 127mm and 155mm calibers, outclassing any other system in the world. Similar ammunition programs exist in China and South Korea, for example, but these are still under development rather than being a consolidated operational capability. In Ukraine, the PzH 2000s supplied by Italy and Germany regularly strike at distances over 70 km using guided ammunition, while the Italian Navy is among the very few capable of engaging other ships at 100-120 km with precise artillery fire.
Italy, Germany, Ukraine, and the United States are the operators of the VULCANO. Germany is currently integrating it into its Navy and opening domestic production lines with Diehl, while the US has ordered a new variant known as ERAP.
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Compass Call
🇮🇹 VULCANO Top: 127mm Mid: 155mm Bottom: 76mm
Oggi parleremo di un'eccellenza Italiana, il munizionamento VULCANO sviluppato dal gigante della difesa Leonardo, un sistema che al momento è al vertice indiscusso nella sua categoria in tutto il mondo.
Gli studi per lo sviluppo di munizionamento con gittata iper-estesa vengono avviati nei primi anni 2000, inizialmente per versioni non guidate ovvero la famiglia BER (Ballistic Extended Range) che aveva lo scopo di aumentare significativamente la gittata dell'artiglieria da 155mm e 127mm, bisognerà aspettare il 2009 per le prime versioni guidate.
Le munizioni VULCANO BER della Leonardo utilizzano una nuova geometria per estendere la gittata del volo, e si tratta di proiettili sottocalibrati che si adattano alle canne da 127 e 155mm grazie a dei Sabot, ovvero degli estensori di diametro che hanno anche la funzione di imprimere la rotazione aggiuntiva al proiettile quando questo esce dalla canna, perché i sabot appunto sono strutturati con delle fessure disposte in modo tale che l'aria imprima la rotazione al proiettile poco prima che il sabot si separi e cada (ciò avviene quasi immediatamente dopo l'uscita dalla canna).
La presenza di alette stabilizzatrici ha inoltre esteso ancora di più la gittata, il prezzo è stato quello della riduzione della carica esplosiva dovuto al minor diametro del proiettile vero, applicando il principio degli APFSDS dei carri armati (semplici penetratori) con l'artiglieria, che necessità di cariche altamente esplosive HE, dando vita dunque ad una categoria di proiettili nota come HEFSDS che significa "High Explosive Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot" ovvero proiettile altamente esplosivo stabilizzato con alette e con sabot a scarto.
Dunque prendiamo un obice semovente Americano M109, con un proiettile ordinario avrebbe fatto circa 24km, con un kit di guida Excalibur circa 40km, invece con un proiettile non guidato (BER) Vulcano ne avrebbe fatti ben 50, che scendono a 36km qualora fosse un cannone a canna corta.
Il salto di qualità avviene con la versione GLR (Guided Long Range) disponibile nei calibri navali da 76 e 127mm, di artiglieria terrestre da 155m, e dal 2025 persino da 120mm per i carri armati.
Qui il proiettile viene sparato ed è munito di un sistema di guida inerziale (quindi accelerometro e giroscopio) insieme ad un sistema di guida GPS, nella fase terminale del volo invece attiva un cercatore SAL ovvero inizia a "cercare" un obiettivo designato da un laser (che può essere designato da un umano, un drone, un aereo ecc) e inizia a manovrare per colpirlo in movimento seguendo il laser, permettendogli di colpire i carri armati sulla parte superiore, diventando un'arma anticarro standoff, ricordiamo è necessario che qualcuno designi con un laser il bersaglio.
Esiste poi una versione da 127mm con sistema di guida a ricerca di calore per il tiro di precisione antinave, ma si tratta di varianti classificate di cui si sa poco.
La gittata dei Vulcano guidati varia dai 70 ai 100km per i calibri da 127 e 155m, surclassando qualsiasi altro sistema al mondo, esistono munizionamenti simili in Cina e Corea del Sud ad esempio, ma si tratta di programmi in fase di sviluppo e non capacità operativa consolidata, in Ucraina i PZH2000 forniti da Italia e Germania colpiscono regolarmente a +70km con munizioni guidate, mentre la Marina Italiana è fra le uniche a poter ingaggiare altre navi a 100-120km con fuoco di artiglieria preciso.
Italia, Germania, Ucraina e Stati Uniti sono gli operatori del VULCANO, la Germania lo sta integrando nella Marina e sta aprendo linee di produzione interne della Diehl, mentre gli USA hanno ordinato una variante nuova nota come ERAP.
sorry for the absence, im going trough a lot of stuff, i'll come back soon!
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MBDA Brimstone 🇪🇺🇬🇧
-Photos showing it in Ukrainian service
-RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
-Photos showing it in Ukrainian service
-RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
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Compass Call
MBDA Brimstone 🇪🇺🇬🇧 -Photos showing it in Ukrainian service -RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
Here is the first post in a series that will focus on MBDA, the largest European missile manufacturer. Through this series, we will examine the capabilities the European Union has achieved in terms of the indigenous production of various types of missiles (while keeping in mind that MBDA is not the only producer). One of the best products of the European consortium MBDA is the Brimstone, the most modern anti-tank system designed for airborne platforms.
The fruit of a British project that began in 1995 and concluded in 1999, it aimed to develop advanced anti-tank capabilities for the RAF. At the time, the British air force relied almost exclusively on the well-known BL.775 anti-tank cluster bombs, which were expensive for striking single targets and, above all, dangerous to friendly troops. Thus, in the 1980s, an IR-guided anti-tank version of the ASRAAM air-to-air missile was developed, designated AST1227. This was discarded due to concerns regarding countermeasures that the enemy could adopt to easily elude an infrared-guided missile. Countless solutions were attempted—proposals involving autonomous-guided HEAT submunition dispensers, unpropelled anti-tank weapons, and mini-cruise missiles—but none met all the requirements. The Brimstone won the contract shortly thereafter, in 1996. The British MoD’s focus was an affordable system that could be carried in large numbers, while guaranteeing a range sufficient to prevent at least MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns from engaging the launch vehicle.
The Brimstone was a 50kg missile featuring an excellent characteristic: a guidance system based not on a heat seeker, but rather on a millimeter-wave radar. Operating at EHF (Extremely High Frequency) with a wavelength of approximately 10-1mm, it allowed the target to be detected with absolute clarity thanks to such a small wavelength. The drawback was that waves this short are easily absorbed by the atmosphere, foliage, humid air, and rain, but this was compensated for by an incredible accuracy that minimized collateral damage. The engineering miracle lay in fitting such a small antenna inside a missile with a diameter of just 18cm, successfully achieving success rates of over 98% in operational contexts. Each launch pod carries three Brimstones, meaning an Eurofighter can operate with 18 Brimstones while retaining space for fuel tanks and short-range defense. The range is 20km when launched from an aircraft or UAV and about 12km when launched from a helicopter.
However, with the Brimstone 2, which entered service in 2015, the range reached an impressive 60km when launched from an aircraft and 40km from a helicopter—an operational range unique in the world for an anti-tank weapon. The version 2 stands out due to the inclusion of a laser guidance system, which allows an operator, a drone, or another aircraft to designate a target with a laser so that the missile hits it by following the reflection. In this way, the range is extended since there is no need to rely solely on the radar, which, as mentioned, has a limited range.
The Brimstone is completely fire-and-forget. Designed to be launched en masse, it hits lines of targets in a staggered manner without causing overkill. Furthermore, it can autonomously search for targets within an area designated by the human operator. Its offensive potential comes from a 6.4kg tandem shaped-charge warhead, which can easily penetrate any MBT (Main Battle Tank) in the world.
In 2019, MBDA presented the Brimstone 3, featuring a completely new digital architecture, advanced surface-to-surface capabilities, and an increased range. Approximately 3,200 units have been ordered by the German Air Force. Hundreds of Brimstones have been used in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq by the RAF, and hundreds have been supplied to Ukraine, adapted for launch from land and naval platforms.
The fruit of a British project that began in 1995 and concluded in 1999, it aimed to develop advanced anti-tank capabilities for the RAF. At the time, the British air force relied almost exclusively on the well-known BL.775 anti-tank cluster bombs, which were expensive for striking single targets and, above all, dangerous to friendly troops. Thus, in the 1980s, an IR-guided anti-tank version of the ASRAAM air-to-air missile was developed, designated AST1227. This was discarded due to concerns regarding countermeasures that the enemy could adopt to easily elude an infrared-guided missile. Countless solutions were attempted—proposals involving autonomous-guided HEAT submunition dispensers, unpropelled anti-tank weapons, and mini-cruise missiles—but none met all the requirements. The Brimstone won the contract shortly thereafter, in 1996. The British MoD’s focus was an affordable system that could be carried in large numbers, while guaranteeing a range sufficient to prevent at least MANPADS and anti-aircraft guns from engaging the launch vehicle.
The Brimstone was a 50kg missile featuring an excellent characteristic: a guidance system based not on a heat seeker, but rather on a millimeter-wave radar. Operating at EHF (Extremely High Frequency) with a wavelength of approximately 10-1mm, it allowed the target to be detected with absolute clarity thanks to such a small wavelength. The drawback was that waves this short are easily absorbed by the atmosphere, foliage, humid air, and rain, but this was compensated for by an incredible accuracy that minimized collateral damage. The engineering miracle lay in fitting such a small antenna inside a missile with a diameter of just 18cm, successfully achieving success rates of over 98% in operational contexts. Each launch pod carries three Brimstones, meaning an Eurofighter can operate with 18 Brimstones while retaining space for fuel tanks and short-range defense. The range is 20km when launched from an aircraft or UAV and about 12km when launched from a helicopter.
However, with the Brimstone 2, which entered service in 2015, the range reached an impressive 60km when launched from an aircraft and 40km from a helicopter—an operational range unique in the world for an anti-tank weapon. The version 2 stands out due to the inclusion of a laser guidance system, which allows an operator, a drone, or another aircraft to designate a target with a laser so that the missile hits it by following the reflection. In this way, the range is extended since there is no need to rely solely on the radar, which, as mentioned, has a limited range.
The Brimstone is completely fire-and-forget. Designed to be launched en masse, it hits lines of targets in a staggered manner without causing overkill. Furthermore, it can autonomously search for targets within an area designated by the human operator. Its offensive potential comes from a 6.4kg tandem shaped-charge warhead, which can easily penetrate any MBT (Main Battle Tank) in the world.
In 2019, MBDA presented the Brimstone 3, featuring a completely new digital architecture, advanced surface-to-surface capabilities, and an increased range. Approximately 3,200 units have been ordered by the German Air Force. Hundreds of Brimstones have been used in Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq by the RAF, and hundreds have been supplied to Ukraine, adapted for launch from land and naval platforms.
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Compass Call
MBDA Brimstone 🇪🇺🇬🇧 -Photos showing it in Ukrainian service -RAF Harrier equipped with Brimstone missiles
To date, the Tornado, Harrier, and Eurofighter aircraft of Germany, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia operate the Brimstone, while Ukraine uses them from the ground alongside Poland. Belgium has ordered 16 Brimstones for its drone fleet, and Spain (200) and Turkey are also receiving Brimstone 3 missiles for their Eurofighters.
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🇮🇹 Ecco il primo post di una serie che sarà incentrata su MBDA, il più grande produttore di missili Europeo, così vedremo quali capacità l'Unione ha raggiunto in termini di produzione indigena di missili di vario tipo (pur ricordando che MBDA non è l'unica produttrice).
Uno dei migliori prodotti del consorzio Europeo MBDA è il Brimstone, ovvero lil sistema anticarro più moderno pensato per piattaforme aeree.
Frutto di un progetto Inglese iniziato nel 1995 e terminato nel 1999, volto allo sviluppo di capacità anticarro avanzate per la RAF, all'epoca l'aeronautica Inglese si affidava quasi solamente alle note bombe a grappolo anticarro BL.775 che però erano costose per colpire bersagli singoli, e soprattutto pericolose per le truppe amiche.
Così negli anni '80 fu sviluppata una versione anticarro a guida IR del missile aria-aria ASRAAM, l'AST1227 che fu scartato a causa di preoccupazioni riguardo le contromisure che il nemico avrebbe potuto adottare per eludere facilmente un missile a guida infrarossa, furono tentate innumerevoli soluzioni, proposte che riguardavano dispenser di munizioni HEAT a guida autonoma, armi anticarro non propulse, mini missili da crociera, ma nessuna rispettava tutti i requisiti.
Il Brimstone vinse l'appalto poco più tardi, nel 1996, il focus del MoD Britannico era un sistema economico, che potesse essere trasportato in grandi numeri, ma che garantisse una gittata tale che almeno MANPADS e cannoni antiaerei non potessero ingaggiare il vettore.
Il Brimstone era un missile da 50kg che aveva una caratteristica ottima, ovvero un sistema di guida basato non su un cercatore di calore, ma bensì un radar millimetrico, ovvero con frequenze EHF (Extremely high frequency) ovvero una lunghezza d'onda di circa 10-1mm che permetteva di rilevare con assoluta chiarezza il bersaglio proprio grazie ad una lunghezza d'onda così piccola, il difetto era che onde così vicine vengono assorbite facilmente da atmosfera, foglie, aria umida e pioggia, ma ciò veniva compensato da una precisione incredibile che minimizzava i danni collaterali.
Il miracolo ingegneristico fu inserire un'antenna così piccola in un missile con un diametro di soli 18cm e riuscire ad ottenere tassi di successo del +98% in contesti operativi, ogni pod di lancio trasporta 3 Brimstones, per cui un Eurofighter può operare con 18 Brimstone conservando spazio per serbatoi e difesa a corto raggio.
La gittata è di 20km lanciato da aereo o UAV e circa 12km se lanciato da elicottero, me nel Brimstone 2, entrato in servizio nel 2015, la gittata è di ben 60km lanciato da aereo e 40km da elicottero, un range d'azione unico al mondo per un'arma anticarro.
La versione 2 si distingue per l'inclusione di un sistema di guida laser che permette ad un operatore, ad un drone, o ad un altro aereo di designare con il laser un bersaglio affinché il missile seguendo il riflesso lo colpisca, in tal modo la gittata si estende poiché non è necessario affidarsi al radar che come detto ha un range ridotto.
Il Brimstone è completamente fire and forget, progettato per essere lanciati in massa è colpire in modo scaglionato colonne di bersagli senza compiere Overkill, inoltre può cercare autonomamente bersagli in un'area designata dall'operatore umano, il suo potenziale offensivo è una testata tandem a carica cava da 6,4kg, che può facilmente penetrare qualsiasi MBT al mondo.
Nel 2019 MBDA ha presentato Brimstone 3, con un'architettura digitale completamente nuova, capacità superficie superficie avanzata e portata aumentata, che è stato ordinato in circa 3200 esemplari dall'Aeronautica Tedesca.
Centinaia di Brimstone sono stati utilizzati in Afghanistan, Libia e Iraq dalla RAF, e centinaia sono stati forniti all'Ucraina ma adattati al lancio da piattaforme terrestri e navali.
Ad oggi i Tornado, gli Harrier e gli Eurofighter di Germania, Regno Unito, Qatar e Arabia Saudita operano con il Brimstone, mentre l'Ucraina li adopera da terra insieme alla Polonia, il Belgio ha ordinato 16 Brimstone per la sua flotta di droni, anche Spagna (200) e Turchia stanno ricevendo i Brimstone 3 per i loro Eurofighter.
MBDA AKERON 🇪🇺🇫🇷
Top and Mid: Akeron LP
Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP
Top and Mid: Akeron LP
Bottom: Sea Akeron and Akeron MP