Leonardo Unveils LIONFISH 30 Turret at Sea Future 2025: Next-Gen Naval Defense System

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At the Sea Future 2025 exhibition in La Spezia, Italy, Leonardo unveiled its latest innovation in naval defense technology: the LIONFISH 30, a 30 mm caliber turret system. This advanced weapon is part of the broader LIONFISH family, which includes small- and medium-caliber turrets designed for modern maritime and land-based applications. With its compact design, advanced sensors, and counter-drone capabilities, the LIONFISH 30 represents a significant step forward in naval defense systems.

Key Specifications and Features


 The LIONFISH 30 was engineered with versatility and adaptability in mind, ensuring it can be deployed across a wide range of platforms. Its compact and lightweight structure minimizes the impact on host vessels, making it suitable for both small patrol boats and larger naval ships. The turret’s stealth design, which reduces its radar cross-section, enhances survivability in contested environments.

Caliber and Firepower

At the heart of the system is its 30x173 mm caliber weapon, capable of delivering precise and powerful fire. The effective range of 3,500 meters allows it to engage threats at a safe distance, providing a strong defensive perimeter for naval assets. With a maximum rate of fire of 200 rounds per minute in burst mode, the LIONFISH 30 can respond rapidly to fast-moving aerial and surface threats.

Ammunition Handling System

One of the standout features of the LIONFISH 30 is its automatic loading system, which incorporates two separate ammunition boxes. This dual-feed capability allows operators to switch between different types of ammunition depending on the threat environment. With up to 200 ready rounds available, the system ensures sustained firepower during critical engagements.

Mobility and Targeting

The turret offers impressive mobility with an elevation range from -20° to +70° and an azimuth rotation of ±155°. Its elevation speed of 90° per second and azimuth speed of 140° per second provide rapid response to sudden threats. The acceleration rates of 220° per second squared further enhance its ability to track and engage agile targets.

Advanced Sensor Suite

The LIONFISH 30 is equipped with a sophisticated sensor package that includes a day camera, infrared camera, and a laser rangefinder. The day camera provides detection, recognition, and identification ranges of 9.5, 4.8, and 3 kilometers respectively. Meanwhile, the infrared camera extends detection capabilities to 12 kilometers, ensuring effective operation in low-visibility conditions, while the laser rangefinder offers precise distance measurement up to 10 kilometers.

Counter-UAS Capabilities

A defining feature of the LIONFISH 30 is its ability to counter small and micro unmanned aerial systems (UAS). These drones represent a growing threat in modern conflicts, and the turret leverages artificial intelligence to perform advanced ballistic calculations against such targets. This makes the system highly effective in protecting naval assets from asymmetric aerial attacks.

Self-Stabilized Optics

The turret integrates self-stabilized optics, ensuring accuracy even in rough sea conditions. This capability is supported by the JANUS-D naval vision system, which provides independent and stabilized aiming for precise targeting. As a result, the LIONFISH 30 maintains high accuracy regardless of platform movement or environmental challenges.

Remote Operation

The system is designed for remote operation, allowing operators to control it from a secure local command and control console. This console provides digital video feeds and advanced targeting data, reducing crew exposure to hostile environments. Remote operation also enhances integration with broader shipboard combat management systems.

Compact and Lightweight Advantage

Weighing 1,450 kilograms without ammunition, the LIONFISH 30 is relatively lightweight for its class. This makes it an attractive option for navies seeking to upgrade smaller vessels without compromising stability or performance. Its compact footprint ensures that it can be installed on a wide variety of platforms, from fast attack craft to auxiliary ships.

Stealth and Survivability

The stealth-oriented design of the LIONFISH 30 reduces its radar cross-section, making it harder for adversaries to detect and target. This feature is particularly valuable in modern naval warfare, where survivability often depends on minimizing visibility to enemy sensors. By combining stealth with firepower, the system enhances both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Modularity and Family Concept

As part of the LIONFISH family, the 30 mm variant benefits from a modular design philosophy. This allows for easier integration with other systems in the family, ensuring commonality of parts and streamlined logistics. The modular approach also enables future upgrades, ensuring the system remains relevant as threats evolve.

Applications Across Domains

While primarily designed for naval use, the LIONFISH 30 can also be adapted for land-based applications. Its compact design and remote operation make it suitable for protecting critical infrastructure, coastal installations, and mobile land platforms. This cross-domain flexibility increases its value for armed forces seeking multi-role solutions.

Technological Edge

The integration of artificial intelligence for ballistic calculations sets the LIONFISH 30 apart from many traditional turret systems. By automating complex targeting processes, the system reduces operator workload and increases engagement speed. This technological edge ensures that the turret can respond effectively to the fast-paced dynamics of modern warfare.

Operational Benefits

Navies adopting the LIONFISH 30 gain a system that combines precision, speed, and adaptability. Its ability to engage drones, fast attack craft, and low-flying aircraft makes it a versatile defensive tool. Furthermore, its remote operation and advanced sensors provide enhanced situational awareness for commanders.

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