BAE Systems and Diehl Defence are strengthening their defense partnership by integrating the long-range Vulcano 127mm precision-guided ammunition into the widely used Mk 45 Mod 4 naval gun. Installed on more than 200 warships serving over a dozen navies worldwide, the Mk 45 currently provides naval fire support beyond 20 nautical miles. With Vulcano ammunition, the weapon’s effective strike distance could increase to roughly 100 kilometers, enabling ships to engage targets much farther inland while maintaining high precision. The ammunition has previously been associated mainly with Leonardo’s 127/64 Lightweight naval gun, but compatibility with the Mk 45 will make the capability available to a significantly larger number of naval platforms. The agreement also extends beyond naval artillery, with both companies exploring the integration of Diehl Defence’s IRIS-T missile family into BAE Systems’ shipboard launch systems. The collaboration follows earlier successful demonstrations of the IRIS-T naval concept aboard a German Navy Type 125 frigate, highlighting the missile’s potential as an advanced maritime air-defense solution.
