OTO-Melara 20mm C-RAM

[TomS]

Hmm, here is a gizmo I never saw when it was announced.

Back in 2012, OTO Melara proposed the Porcupine C-RAM. Basically a lightweight M61A1 20mm Gatling, on-board electro-optic, and networked radar fire control. The defended footprint is quite small, about 400m on a side, which probably tells you something about the ballistics of 20mm x 102. It's not at all clear how this compares to the Centurian CRAM (basically truck-mounted Phalanx) that the US uses.

OTO Melara unveils its new automatized defense system, the PORCUPINE C-RAM | Eurosatory 2014 Show Daily News Coverage Report | Defence and security military army exhibition 2014

At Eurosatory 2014, OTO Melara presents PORCUPINE C-RAM, a remotely controlled M61A1 Gatling gun coupled with ammunition handling loader and a stabilized optronic infrared tracking system, providing 24 hour target engagement capability.This new defense system offers solution to the C-RAM...

www.armyrecognition.com

A typical PORCUPINE configuration would consist of four firing units, one central control post for target designation and weapon control and a 3D radar system "track while scan type" for surveillance and target tracking.

Each remote firing unit consists of a 20mm M61A1 Gatling cannon, its ammunition handling system and a stabilised optronic infra-red tracking system. 24-hour target engagement capability is ensured.

One PORCUPINE C-RAM system would typically cover an aera of 400 x 400 m but additional remote firing units could be added to extend the protection area and ensure best level of protection.​

Oto-Melara Unveils Self Propelled Guns, C-RAM Capability - Defense Update:

Oto Melara is launching a wheeled, turreted 155mm 39 Cal. self-propelled gun at Eurosatory 2012.

defense-update.com

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Edit: There were supposed to be pictures here, but they don't seem to be working. Will try to fix at some point.

 

[Sineva]

I found a couple of interesting pics of the system.

Its certainly a very compact little system

And heres a pic of the components mounted on a truck for a parade.
It does give one at least a sense of how potentially compact a dedicated truck mounted version could be.

 

[timmymagic]

And heres a pic of the components mounted on a truck for a parade.
It does give one at least a sense of how potentially compact a dedicated truck mounted version could be

Does that mean it entered service with Italy? It's said it was developed for an Italian Army requirement, presumably following experience in Iraq/Afghanistan. Did they take it on trials as a UOR?

 

[Grey Havoc]

TankPorn link

 

[Kat Tsun]

IIRC Centurion has a defended diameter of about 1,000-1,200 meters. This appears to use the short barrel M61, though the drawing shows a long barrel, so yeah. If you could mount this on a Humvee or a HMT trailer it would be pretty nice. The 8x8 installation just looks like a wimpier Phalanx though.

 

[TomS]

IIRC Centurion has a defended diameter of about 1,000-1,200 meters. This appears to use the short barrel M61, though the drawing shows a long barrel, so yeah. If you could mount this on a Humvee or a HMT trailer it would be pretty nice. The 8x8 installation just looks like a wimpier Phalanx though.

Even on an 8x8 it's a lot more compact than Centurion, which comes in a flat-bed trailer with a 6x6 prime mover. Of course, it also has an operator cab and generators on that trailer.

This is probably not as good a C-RAM solution as Centurion, thanks to the off-mount radar and no closed-loop spotting. But it's also a lot.ore portable.