Italian Navy PPA3 Certifies 76/62 Super Rapid Turret at Sea Clearing Fleet Entry for NATO Tasks.

The European defence organisation confirmed sea qualification trials for the Leonardo 76/62 Super Rapid on PPA3 ITS Montecuccoli in the Gulf of La Spezia on 6 October 2025, validating operational readiness and non-intrusive deck integration. The result tightens the PPA class’s layered defence profile and supports standardisation across NATO navies that field the 76 mm family.

OCCAR officials and shipyard engineers wrapped a sea trial sequence on ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli, the first PPA in the Light Plus configuration, confirming the 76/62’s performance across major firing envelopes and its seamless tie-in with the ship’s combat system. Crews rehearsed rapid elevation changes, measured dispersion under way, and verified data continuity across the CMS and fire-control loops, a step that moves the gun from range-proven to fleet-reliable on the class. The outcome aligns with the PPA programme’s multi-mission design and ongoing series stabilisation.
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ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli (PPA 3), fitted with the Leonardo OTO 76/62 Super Rapid naval gun (Picture source: Italian Navy)

The trial sequence covered major firing envelopes and the integration tasks required before fleet introduction. Crews and engineers checked rate of fire at several elevation angles, firing stability in representative sea conditions, and data continuity with the ship’s combat system. According to OCCAR, the results meet Italian Navy requirements and confirm coherence between the weapon, sensors, and fire-control loops, marking the difference between a shore range campaign and a capability that can be relied upon in operations.

The PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) is Italy’s multipurpose patrol ship programme, “Multi-Purpose by Design,” integrated into OCCAR since 2015. It emphasises modularity and NATO/EU interoperability to cover a broad set of missions, from AAW/ASuW/ASW to dual-use tasks such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and anti-pollution. Based on a common platform prioritising speed, endurance, seakeeping, automation, and a reduced environmental footprint (electrification, biofuels), the seven planned ships are delivered in three configurations with increasing capability: LIGHT (complete artillery), LIGHT PLUS (artillery plus missile firing, with actuators planned for BMD), and FULL (all warfare areas), with LIGHT and LIGHT PLUS “fitted for” growth to FULL. In production with ten years of in-service support, the programme has already delivered Paolo Thaon di Revel (2022), Francesco Morosini (2022), and Raimondo Montecuccoli (2023), forming a deployable backbone for the Italian Navy in dynamic, complex scenarios.

The Leonardo OTO 76/62 Super Rapid (SR) turret is a 76 mm automatic naval gun, light and compact, designed for air-defence and surface-engagement roles with anti-missile capability. It interfaces with modern CMS/FCS via a digital control console, open interfaces, and a rotary magazine that can be replenished during action. The selectable rate of fire ranges from single shot to 120 rds/min, with a tactical time under 3 s and typical dispersion under 0.3 mrad. Options include a low-observable shield to reduce RCS, a muzzle-velocity radar, multi-feed ammunition selection, and the STRALES kit for the DART guided projectile. Figures include approximately 7,900 kg empty mass, 80 ready-use rounds, unlimited train, elevation from −15° to +85°, maximum speeds of 60°/s in train and 35°/s in elevation with accelerations up to 72°/s². Indicative ranges are ~16 km with standard ammunition, ~20 km with extended-range SAPOMER, and up to ~40 km announced with the long-range guided Vulcano 76 (in development).

Three findings emerge from the trials. First, firing across wide elevation arcs confirmed precise tracking during rapid elevation changes, relevant against low-altitude threats and maneuvering fast craft. Second, stability checks under way characterised dispersion and structural response, directly informing aiming corrections and salvo sizing. Third, coherence between the turret, fire-control system, and the Integrated Vulcano System indicates harmonised ammunition management and ballistic computation on the ship’s digital backbone.

Operationally, the 76/62 provides the PPA with a flexible tool for layered defence and sovereignty tasks: a final layer against sea-skimming missiles or UAVs when soft-kill means and interceptors are saturated or unavailable, graded effects for maritime security from warning shots to disabling fire, and sustained-fire endurance for multiple, maneuvering threats. Non-intrusive installation reduces topweight and maintenance, supporting long patrols without reducing responsiveness, while CMS/FCS integration shortens the sensor-to-shooter chain and narrows the window for a fast-approaching threat.

This qualification coincides with the closure of Final Warranty Works on PPA3, completed on 30 September 2025. Under OCCAR’s lead with the industrial consortium, more than 1,000 actions addressed platform and combat-system items, including the reduction gear, medium-calibre gun, fire-control system, and IVS. The milestone reflects a structured corrective cycle across propulsion, sensors, and weapons, lowering risk for follow-on hulls and stabilising the series configuration.

From a geopolitical perspective, the result aligns with European efforts toward standardisation and industrial risk control. A modular PPA with a reduced footprint and a fully qualified 76/62 strengthens the ability of Italy and allies to deploy multipurpose assets at short notice for presence, surveillance, sea-line protection, and crisis response. In the central Mediterranean and Atlantic approaches, increased availability is relevant given the spread of anti-ship missiles, drone saturation, and grey-zone activities shaping current naval competition.