OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank)

Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) Vehicle

Italy | 1987

"The OTO-Melara Otomatic Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun failed to find market interest and was limited to a single prototype."

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank) Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) Vehicle.

1 x MTU MB837 Ka-500 V10 multi-fuel engine developing 750 horsepower.
Installed Power

40 mph
65 kph
Road Speed

311 miles
500 km
Range

Structure
The physical qualities of the OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank) Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) Vehicle.

4
(MANNED)
Crew

24.0 ft
7.3 meters
O/A Length

12.1 ft
3.7 meters
O/A Width

10.1 ft
3.07 meters
O/A Height

101,413 lb
46,000 kg | 50.7 tons
Weight

Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank) Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) Vehicle.

1 x 76mm OTO-Breda autocannon
6 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers

AMMUNITION:
70 x 76mm projectiles
6 x Smoke Grenades

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank) family line.

"Otomatic" ADT - Base Series Name; single prototype example completed.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/25/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

At one point in the 1980s the Italian concern of OTO-Melara attempted to sell the Army (and any interested foreign buyers) on the merits of a 76mm-armed Air Defence Tank (ADT) known as the "Otomatic". The system mated a rapid-firing autocannon with the chassis of the "Palmaria" Self-Propelled Gun (SPG) (detailed elsewhere on this site), retaining all of the mobility of the latter. However, interest on the part of the Army (and foreign parties) ultimately waned and only one prototype of the Otomatic was ever completed before project cancellation occurred.

The 76mm gun in question was derived from an existing OTO-Breda design and this was directed by an onboard Fire Control System (FCS) featuring radar and laser-range finding. The gun was cleared to fire both High-Explosive (HE) and Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) rounds. Beyond its effectiveness as a short-to-medium-range air defense system, the Otomatic could easily be trained against ground targets such as armored vehicles. There was an initial intent to make the Otomatic turret available as a stand-alone component - offering foreign customers the option to mount it atop any existing Main Battle Tank (MBT) hull.

Despite the initiative, this OTO-Melara venture fell short of expectations and the Italian Army joined other powers in looking elsewhere - leaving the Otomatic with no future home.

As finalized, the Otomatic was a 46 tonne vehicle with a length (hull only) of 23.9 feet, a width of 12.1 feet and a height of 10 feet. Its operating crew numbered four. The 76mm main gun carried seventy projectiles into battle. Power to the vehicle was from an MTU MB837 Ka-500 series diesel engine outputting 750 horsepower. The vehicle was suspended atop a torsion bar arrangement for cross-country travel. Operational ranges reached 310 miles with road speeds nearing 40 miles per hour. As the Otomatic was built atop the existing chassis of the Palmaria, which itself was born from the export-minded OF-40 Main Battle Tank (detailed elsewhere on this site), the Otomatic had a track-and-wheeled arrangement utilizing seven double-tired road wheels to a track side. The drive sprocket remained at rear with the track idler at front and four track return rollers were used.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): OTO-Melara - Italy

[ Italy (not adopted) ]

1 / 1

Image of the OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank)

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Going Further...
The OTO-Melara Otomatic ADT (Air Defence Tank) Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG) Vehicle appears in the following collections:

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