Oto Melara

OTO Melara
Public
Headquarters La Spezia, Italy
Area served
 Worldwide
Increase
Total assets Increase
Total equity Increase
Website www.otomelara.it
Otobreda 127/54
Ariete
Puma

Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. Oto Melara's best-known weapons since World War II are the mountain pack howitzer Model 56, which is in service throughout the world, and the 76mm naval gun, which has been adopted by 53 navies and is installed on over 1,000 naval vessels.

History

Pre World War I

It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni Steelworks. During World War I, Vickers Terni produced many weapons with calibre 40 mm and upwards. In 1929 the company was renamed Odero Terni Orlando with the abbreviation OTO. During World War II, mostly heavy guns for battleships were produced.

Post World War II

In 1953 the company took the name OTO Melara.

Before Italy joined NATO, Oto Melara produced civil products, like tractors and looms, but quickly returned to the production of weapons. On 1 December 2001, the naval artillery division of Oto Melara merged with that of Breda Meccanica Bresciana to form Otobreda. The combined entity produces the DARDO CIWS, Otobreda 76 mm and Otobreda 127/54 Compact naval guns. Oto Melara's land defence operations are part of the Finmeccanica conglomerate.

Main products

Vehicles manufactured include:

Weapons manufactured includes:

Ammunition manufactured includes:

In the last decade the company has produced between 900 and 1000 GBU-31 and GBU-32 JDAMs on license. At the moment it's working on the production of 500 GBU-39s for the Aeronautica Militare.

The naval defence operations produce a wide range of automatic naval artillery, rocket and missile launchers and remote controlled small calibre defence cannons.

See also

References

    External links