Dutch navy selects Leonardo Lionfish naval gun system

The Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) has selected Leonardo’s Lionfish Top 12.7 mm remotely controlled naval turret to equip several of its ship classes.

In an announcement on 21 March, Leonardo said the Lionfish Top variant would equip the RNLN’s four Holland-class offshore patrol vessels, the landing platform dock HNLMS Johan de Witt and Joint Support Ship HNLMS Karel Doorman , and the service’s future Den Helder-class combat support ship, which is under construction.

Leonardo first unveiled the Lionfish family of gun mounts during the Euronaval 2020 maritime exhibition in Paris. The Lionfish series consists of four remote-controlled naval turrets – three designed for 12.7 mm guns and one designed for 20 mm guns.

The Lionfish Top variant is designed for use as a primary or secondary ship-mounted armament. It weighs less than 300 kg and, according to Leonardo, is effective against close threats and in asymmetric warfare scenarios.

All four turrets in the family are equipped with the same aiming system, remote-control capability, and electro-optical director.