Leonardo unveils new 120/L55 gun and VULCANO munition for Panther main battle tank

The new 120/L55 gun provides higher muzzle velocity due to its extended barrel length and can sustain higher firing pressure thanks to a new autofrettage process developed by Leonardo. According to the company, this innovation allows the gun to fire a greater number of rounds more effectively than current systems under development.

https://t.co/p5RHltx0u3 ecco a voi il 120/L55 ed il VULCANO-120. Come cambia l’impiego degli MBT

— RID (@RID_Difesa) July 16, 2025

The 120/L55 is primarily intended for the PANTHER-IT combat variant, where it will equip 82 out of 132 units planned for production. The remaining 50 will be fitted with Rheinmetall’s L55A1 gun, while the Leonardo system remains compatible with other platforms such as the ARIETE C2 and AICS-120, including for export opportunities.

The first firing test of the prototype took place on 24 June at Nettuno, and today attendees witnessed a live demonstration of a six-round firing sequence. Five prototypes will be used for the qualification phase, which is expected to last 12 months.

Alongside the new gun, Leonardo also presented the latest member of its sub-calibre and precision-guided VULCANO family: the 120 mm VULCANO round. Designed for use with 120 mm tank guns, it is also compatible with similar-calibre wheeled and tracked platforms like the CENTAURO II and AICS-120.

The VULCANO-120 has a maximum range of approximately 30 kilometres, enabling engagement of targets beyond the line of sight. These targets may include armoured vehicles, rocket launchers, air defence systems and even main battle tanks, against which it can inflict “functional damage”, such as destroying optics and antennas.

Leonardo developed the VULCANO-120 in response to evolving operational scenarios where manoeuvre envelopes have expanded across multiple dimensions. In this context, the main battle tank is increasingly seen as a “Multi-role Principal Combat Platform (PPMC)” capable of supporting dispersed and non-linear forces while striking effectively at long range.