The war in Ukraine has made one thing painfully clear: the airspace above the battlefield is no longer a safe space. Drones, loitering munitions and cruise missiles appear in large numbers. Those without effective air defence lose pace, striking power and ultimately ground. In that context, a seemingly classic naval system suddenly gets a new role on land: Leonardo’s 76 mm gun. (below a video of the naval system)
What was once developed primarily for naval ships is now also being positioned as a mobile ground-based air defence system. It is the 76/62 Sovraponte, a modern variant of the well-known 76 mm naval gun that has been used worldwide for decades. The Netherlands has officially ordered this system for the new Anti-Submarine Warfare frigates, with delivery from early 2027. The gun has now also been placed on a truck platform, making it usable for protecting vital sites on land.
The step from sea to land is logical. The 76 mm system has been further developed with modern sensors and above all with advanced ammunition. The core of this is the DART ammunition: guided projectiles that can change direction during flight. Instead of a classic ‘dumb’ shell, this is smart ammunition guided to the target with radar support. That makes the system suitable against fast, agile targets such as drones and incoming missiles.
Technically, the system works as follows. As soon as a threat is detected, the fire control system calculates the optimal interception point. The DART shell is fired and receives corrections during flight. This is done via a radio signal that helps the shell subtly adjust its course. As a result, the projectile can respond to unexpected manoeuvres by the target.
The effect is impressive. The ammunition is programmed to detonate at the right moment, right next to the target. This creates a ring of steel fragments that spreads around the target. This greatly increases the hit probability, even against small and hard-to-detect objects. At a time when drone swarms increasingly dominate the airspace, that is no unnecessary luxury.
Image: the naval version
For the Royal Netherlands Navy, the introduction of the 76 mm Sovraponte gun is an important modernisation. The system can engage land, surface and air targets and offers greater range and more flexibility than traditional close-in weapon systems designed solely for short-range protection against incoming missiles. Replacing older systems with this modern gun fits a broader trend: multi-purpose weapon systems that can handle both conventional threats and new, asymmetric attacks.
The fact that the same technology is now also being put on a truck underlines how valuable the product is. Instead of developing an entirely new system, a proven naval weapon is adapted for use on land. That is efficient, cost-conscious and operationally sensible. Important sites such as ports, air bases, logistics hubs or energy infrastructure can be protected in a mobile and flexible way.
The war in Ukraine shows that fixed installations are vulnerable. Air defence systems that stay permanently in one location are predictable targets. Mobile air defence that can relocate quickly and be redeployed is essential to force opponents to spread and complicate their attacks. A 76 mm gun with guided DART ammunition on a truck platform offers exactly that combination of firepower, range and mobility.
Cost structure also plays a role. Modern air defence missiles are effective, but expensive. Intercepting relatively cheap drones with expensive missiles leads to an unfavourable cost balance. Programmable artillery ammunition is an interesting alternative in that respect. With a high rate of fire, the system can engage several targets in succession without immediately falling back on scarce missile stocks.
With the introduction of this gun on the new Dutch frigates from 2027 and the development of a land variant, a clear picture emerges of how classic artillery is reinventing itself. What started as a naval system against aircraft and missiles is growing into a versatile shield against the threats of the 21st century.
At a time when drones are cheap and can be used in large numbers, the answer is not only more missiles, but also smart, programmable artillery. Leonardo’s 76 mm gun shows that innovation is not always about an entirely new design. Sometimes the strength lies in adapting an existing system to a new type of warfare.
