Leonardo has revealed its newly developed 120mm L55 tank gun, offering increased range and power thanks to improved muzzle velocity and advanced engineering.
The 55-caliber gun, funded entirely by Leonardo, uses a proprietary “self-forcing process” to allow for a higher rate of fire, Rivista Italiana Difesa reported.
As an upgrade to the L44 and L45 smoothbore tank cannons, the L55 features a longer barrel and structural reinforcements to handle elevated stress levels.
It is 500 kilograms heavier than its predecessor and achieves a 5% increase in muzzle velocity, according to the European Defence Review.
The gun was developed for the Panther KF51 main battle tank under a Leonardo-Rheinmetall joint venture. Italy will receive 82 KF51 units equipped with the Leonardo cannon, while Germany’s 50 tanks will carry Rheinmetall’s L55A1.
Beyond the KF51, the L55 is also slated for use in the ARIETE C2 tank and AICS-120 combat vehicle.
Given its recoil power, the system is reserved for deployment on tracked platforms only.
