The Royal Netherlands Navy has selected Leonardo‘s LIONFISH Top remotely-controlled naval turret system to equip its Holland-class patrol vessels, LPD (Landing Platform Dock) and JSS (Joint Support Ship) units, Johan de Witt and Karel Doorman classes, and Den Helder-class Combat Support Ship.
LIONFISH Top is one of three 12.7mm variants in the new family of remotely-controlled naval turrets. ‘Ultralight’ and ‘Inner Reloading’ models are also available in the same caliber. The company also offers a 20mm LIONFISH 20 model.
LIONFISH 12.7 Top weighs less than 300 kg and is effective against close threats and in asymmetric scenarios. Effectiveness and accuracy at long range are guaranteed by the use of a cooled infrared sensor that integrates Leonardo’s Mini Colibrì optics. This is common across the whole turret family, which can also integrate an uncooled sensor. Depending on the technology used, the detection range can be up to 12 km. Leonardo’s technologies can effectively and accurately handle various types of threats, including unmanned systems.
The modularity and lightweight and common architecture of the LIONFISH family of defense systems allow the turrets to be installed and operated on board secondary platforms, both as a primary and secondary defense system, with no deck penetration. All systems in the family can self-calculate firing solutions and engage fast-moving threats, even when installed on high-speed platforms.