Teseo (missile)
Encyclopedia
The Otomat/Teseo is an Italian
-built, anti-ship
and coastal attack missile
first built by the Italian company Oto Melara
jointly with Matra
and now made by MBDA
.
The name comes, for the first version, from the name of the two builders (OTO Melara MATra) and, for the last versions, from the Italian word for Theseus
.
was sunk by three Soviet-made P-15 Termit
anti-ship missiles. This event raised awareness about the effectiveness of such weapons and prompted the development of similar systems in Western countries, such as the Harpoon
in the United States. However, it is unknown whether the Otomat program started before or after the Eilat event.
The Otomat program was undertaken by the Italian Oto Melara
corporation in cooperation with the French Matra
Corporation. The aim was to develop an anti-ship missile powered by a turbofan
which would allow more range and a heavier warhead than rocket-powered missiles then being developed in Europe such as the French Exocet
and the German Kormoran
. Trials started in 1971 and development of the Mk1 version of the Otomat officially ended in 1974.
However, at that time, the French Navy
chose the wholly French Exocet over the Franco-Italian Otomat as its standard anti-ship missile. Thus, the Italian Navy
remained as the only launch customer for the missile; it entered service on January 1976, before the commissioning
of the warship intended to carry it, the Lupo class frigate
.. These early Otomat missiles lacked a data link
for over-the-horizon targeting, which limited its effective range to 60 km, a similar figure to the Exocet. To solve this problem, development of a Mk2 version started in May 1973, with a first test launch in January 1974, development completed in 1976, and the first over-the-horizon launch in 1978.. By the end of 1976 OTO Melara had reported that 210 Otomats had been sold: Italy 48, Peru 40, Venezuela 12, and Libya 110. Also at this time there were negotiations under way for the sale of 296 more missiles to various nations (i.e. Italy 48, Egypt 30, Venezuela 48, Libya 120, Indonesia 50).
A Mk2 Block II version was introduced in the 1980s, it featured folding wings so that the missile could now fit in a smaller launch boxes. This reduction in size allowed a doubling in the number of missiles carried, usually from four to eight. Even so, Otomat Mk2 Block II remained bulkier than contemporary versions of Harpoon and Exocet missiles due to its greater diameter and its boosters being fitted to its flanks instead of in the rear.
The Otomat is a long range anti-ship missile
capable of reaching around 180 km at an average speed of 1,000-1,100 km/h. It is stored and launched in a fiberglass
box which weighs 1,610 kg fully loaded. This container has a rectangular shape to accommodate the fixed wings of the missile and an inclination of 15 degrees. At launch, the boosters propel the missile up to a height of 200 m before the main engine starts and a descent to 20 m is made. Otomat Mk2 missiles have a data-link for mid-course updates. They are designed to strike their targets in a 180 m dive or in a sea-skimming mode at an altitude of 2 m with a 210 kg warhead capable piercing up to 80 mm of steel. The warhead is designed to explode inside the ship with the force of the explosion directed to the bottom of the target ship.
Technical data are: 4.46 m length, 40 cm diameter, 1.35 wingspan, 770 kg launch weight.
The mid-fuselage fuel tank has a capcity of 90 liters, behind the fuel tank is the TR-281 ARBIZON III engine, a simple turbo-jet. The twin ROXEL boosters weigh 75 kg each, and provide an acceleration of 6 g for four seconds.
The Turboméca TR.281 Arbizon III is a jet engine of 400 kg/t., around 50% more powerful than the Harpoon's engine, the Willis turbojet that has 272 kg/t. This latter engine is apparently used also on the bigger BGM-109 so this has lower speed (around 800 km/h compared to 1,000). Air intakes are an unusual number, four, all placed forward the wings, at mid-fuselage (as example Harpoon and Tomawhak have only one), contribuing to the characteristic, complex shape of this missile.
Power available has made possible to fit in the bulky fuselage a high fuel reserve, heavy warhead and a data-link (Mk 2 model) to receive updates, at least once when in flight to the target.
The flight controls are four foldable stearable main wings, and four tail control winglets. Structure is made of light alloys, mainly aluminium
. The Radar
active seeker has a range, in the Italian version, of around 8 km with a medium sized target, but usually it is activated at a shorter distance (see typical mission).
The warhead
is in the front, behind the radar section and forward the radio-altimeter and some other electronic systems. The HE warhead is of the semi-armour piercing type and has a 65 kg Hertol type filler (for comparison, Kormoran missiles have 165 kg warheads, 56 kg is the HE main charge, plus 16 radial small charges to explode well inside the ship after the main explosion, and the armour piercing capability is around 7–8 cm).
In a typical layout, there are 4-8 fiber-glass boxes, with the missile inside, held by a rail in the roof. The overall weight is 1,610 kg.
Data-links are included in the TESEO or ERATO control systems. ERATO has computerized consoles CLIO, while TESEO has MM/OJ-791 consoles, weighing 570 kg with 4 kW electric power requirement. The Data-link is called the PRT400 system, and the components are the PTR402 designation for missile (as receiver), PRT401 designation for the transmitter (shipborn) or PTR403 (carried by helicopter). Other systems fittable are PRT404 system for light ships and PRT405 system for helicopters.
Overall strengths of this missile are long range, speed, sea-skimming capabilities and a powerful warhead.
Weakness are the need for a helicopter for mid-course guidance and a quite difficult uplink in the TESEO system (at least in the original model), big dimensions (affecting radar cross section RCS and IR signature), the lack of complex manoeuvres (synchronization of attacks, re-engagement capabilities, ECCM capability not up to current standards and never publicized), and the availability of surface versions only: no submarine and aircraft versions were developed.
This caused problems to the services that acquired these anti-ship missiles: Italian forces use Otomat (ships), Marte (helicopters), Kormoran
(Tornados), Harpoons
(not confirmed for submarines). Given the necessity to buy other totally different missile systems, many customers simply bought a 'family of missile systems' as in the Harpoon series and the Exocet family with obvious operative and economic advantages.
No particular manoeuvres are required by the ship: the missiles are capable of changing course after the launch up to 200° so all the missiles in the ship could be used against the same target
in one attack.
This allows for quick reaction times as the ship does not need to change direction to unmask the missile batteries. This allows the ship to fire all missiles against a target regardless of where they are place aboard.
, stabilizes his flight
and descends to 20 m cruising at low altitude. At this time the auto-pilot and the altimeter make possible hold the right directions to the target. The missile flies at around 1,000 km/h controlled with the four cross winglets in the aft, behind the main fixed wings to sustain the weapon.
Mid-course update is possible with several systems. This weapon system is called TESEO (only the missile is called Otomat) in the Italian Navy, and the mid-course is given with two channels: by the ship itself (TG-1) and with external sources, available in the Agusta Bell AB-212 ASW helicopter's final production batch, that uses TG-2.
While the missiles flies it receive the input at mid-course, then, at only 6 km from the target activates the onboard radar to reduce reaction time from the target. This could be of two models: the simpler ST-2 made by SMA (Italian missiles) and the more complex and ambitious CSF 'Col vert', for French made missiles (only for export, since the French Navy had not adopted them). There is a large difference in the seekers, because the first is a one axis, two dimensional radar system: the weapon simply continues to fly to the ship, with the altitude falling from 20 to, in good sea conditions, 2-3m. The warhead is heavy, 210 kg (Exocet 165, Harpoon 227) and the explosive blast is focused downward, attempting to blast a hole in the ship bottom sinking rather than just damaging the vessel. The Col Vert version of the missile performs pop up flight to 180 m at around 2 km from the target and then dives on the ship, aiming at the decks to maximise damage..
The Col Vert version seems to have suffered problems in service with issues from sea state wave clutter. The popup and final dive attack the Col Vert version of Otomat were designed to fool CIWS fire solutions. A similar approach was used in the US Harpoon system, then abandoned. Sensors in this variant are more complex and costly than the simpler sea skimming models, and while more capable to penetrate air defences, they may have not shown a decisive superiority, even if tecnologically more sophisticated.
The ERATO (Extended Range Air Targeting for Otomat) system, used by the Al-Madinah class frigates, is the French version for mid-course guidance of the Otomat missile. In this case updated target information is provided to the ship which controls up to 16 missiles. This allows a multi-ship launch (Madinas have eight missiles each) and single ship control of an Otomat salvo for coordinated attack. The downside of this system is that the Otomat missile must rise to a 900 meter altitude to achieved uplink data. This could theoretically warn a target ship of the impending attack, but there are few possibilities to notice such small missiles at ranges of more than a few dozen kilometers.. Maximum range for data-link is 100 km, limiting somewhat the missile's maximum range. It is possible to send up to six corrections for each missile, and attack up to six differently targets at once. Consoles are called CLIO, integrated with ship's combat system.
TESEO is used by the Italian Navy Marina Militare
(MMI or MM) and not allowing updated from the ship, do not needs altitude variations in the flight for missiles.
The limiting factor with the Otomat as incorporated in the TESEO system is that the AB-212 ASW Helo platform used for update has a limited radar range of no more than 60 km (with a 2,000 m2 RCS target, typically a frigate or destroyer), and will be hovering and stationary to allow the missile to fly under it and guide Otomat to its target. If the target ship has a medium range SAM suite like RIM-66 Standard
missiles, and is aware of the danger (with radar and ESM
suites), the AB-212 helo's lifespan could be limited to mere seconds, as it is much bigger than anti-ship missiles.
TESEO system requires that the missile fly under the helicopter, allowing the engagement of only one target at a time (even if with two missiles), the missiles must be launched to helicopter and so, this one must fly practically fixed for several minutes, while the missiles must fly a longer flight path, being this launch a non linear flight path.
In addition the AB-212 helo is old, slow and vulnerable to any air platform with even minimal AAW capabilities. AB-212ASW speed is listed at 196 km/h, slower than the land model AB 212, with 185 km/h max. cruise speed. The other widespread naval helicopters, Westland Lynx
, Eurocopter Dauphin
and Sikorsky Seahawks are all far faster and the four blades rotor allows very good agility, compared to the old two blades rotor. Concern is also centered around ECM measures against older weapons system with a relatively primitive uplink system. A further complication is that the AB-212 will take up to an hour to reach Otomat's maximum range (in the meanwhile, a jet interceptor can fly easily for more than 900 km), as time in combat is a valuable commodity. All these problems are at least partially solved in Madina' frigates, that have ERATO data link system and AS-365 Dauphin helicopters, capable of almost 300 km/h.
1.8. However, further evaluations found that stealth was better than speed at penetrating warship defenses so the project was dropped. In 1992, the Italian government started the development of a new generation anti-ship missile designated Otomat Mk3 with a disbursement of 19 million. Meanwhile, the French Navy chose to pursue the ANS/ANNG/ANF project for a supersonic missile, thereby ending French involvement in the development of the Otomat.
The Mk3 version was named at one point Ulisse, the Italian name for the mythical hero Odysseus
. With development starting twenty years after the Mk1 version, the Mk3 was a quite different weapon. The guidance package was updated with new IR and radar sensors in the nose, a GPS navigation system and an updated data link to allow the engagement of coastal targets. To improve the missile chances of hitting, its nose and wing shapes were optimized for a reduced radar cross section
(RCS). Range was improved to 250–300 km while keeping the same dimensions of the previous versions. The warhead was kept at 210 kg but fitted with an armored casing and less sensitive explosives
which lowered its chances of being destroyed by close-in weapon system
s. Three Otomat missiles were test launched in 1994-1995 with IR guidance and the new data link with good results. At this stage, an air launched version was also considered for improved versatility. The United States Navy
(USN) showed interest in this missile for many years as an as intermediate system between the Harpoon
and the Tomahawk
. However, the USN withdrew from the program in 1999 and it was soon canceled as the Italian Navy
was unable to fully fund its development.
The latest version of the Otomat is the Mk2 Block IV, also called Teseo Mk2/A. It has a new data link which allows its flight to be controlled from the ship via the Teseo system in a similar way to Erato. GPS is also fitted allowing programmable flight trajectories with complex paths. The Italian Navy ordered 38 missiles of this version, 27 for operational use and 11 for training purposes with an estimated in-service date of 2008.
A separate path led to the development of Milas, an anti-submarine variant of the Otomat. It started in 1986 as a Franco-Italian program for a missile capable of delivering a lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
. The first test launch took place in 1989, ten more launches with torpedoes fitted had taken place by 1993. Tests ended in 1999, however, by that time France had lost interest in the system even though it had originally proposed the idea as a replacement for its own Malafon
system. Thus, Milas entered service in 2002 with the Italian Navy only, after almost 20 years of development. Milas is an all weather day/night system with a maximum range of 55 km. It can put a torpedo in the water at 35 km of its launch platform within three minutes and, if required, change its impact point while flying. Only a few Milas missiles are in service, deployed on the two Durand de La Penne class destroyer
s..
The only other variant in service is a coastal defense version bought by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and ordered by Iraq but never delivered to that country. All necessary electronics are trailer-mounted as well as twin missile launchers, which makes it a high mobility system. Even so, Iraq had planned to deploy it in fixed armored sites..
In all by all, this missile was and is a very powerful weapon. Without helicopter provided mid-course guidance (especially in presence of enemy fighters), this weapon is still capable of striking well over the horizon. A range of 50 km can be covered with the ship's sensors and missiles like MM.38 Exocet are at their optimum. Between 50–120 km is the range that weapons like Harpoon
, which have over the horizon capabilities but no data-link update, come into play. At ranges longer than that a target moving in unpredicted directions will give such weapons little or no chance to acquire their target. Finally, over 120 km is where the need for a long range weapon, external targeting platforms and data-linked updates come into play as only with course and target position updating can any long range missile have a chance of engaging a moving target at these ranges. This is the typical capability of the Otomat and long range soviet missiles. In short range engagements, the Otomat does not have any advantage since it is bigger than other missiles and presents a larger target to shoot down.
The possibilities of commercial success are not good today, since this weapon is related mainly with the operation Italian warships, now not so much of a commercial export success as in previous decades. The management of both the missiles-Exocet and Otomat are now under the MBDA company control, so while in actually in competition with one another Otomat has fared worse in the world's market place to the famous and combat proven Exocet under the MBDA firm..
MILAS was conceptualized when the USSR was the main threat, during the Cold War. After 1991, the necessity to have outstanding ASW weapons systems was seen as being reduced with many ex USSR submarines rusting beside piers, and so MILAS is not destined to be a widespread weapon either, despite it is fully adaptable to the standard launch system used for Otomat.
Otomat versions were few, but nevertheless with significant differences. The only component remained the same was the engine, at mid-90s there was a production of over 900 missile
s (compared to 3,000 Exocet
s and 6,000 Harpoons).
This is the complete family, in chronological order:
Otomat Mk 1: first model, without data link, 60 km practical range, service from 1976
Otomat Mk 2 Block I: first model with data-link, 180 km range, first over the horizon launch in 1978
Otomat Mk 2 Block II: it had foldable wings, allowing the use of smaller boxes, and so using two missiles instead of one. It started to appear in '80s, though it took considerable time to replace the first model.
Otomat Mk 2 Block III: new INS
navigation system, 'insensible' warhead, new, safer solid propellent for boosters, improved data link to allow TESEO to guide missiles also from the ship directly. It is not known when it entered service.
Otomat Mk 3/NGASM/ULISSE: new version with longer range, stealth design (both shape and materials), IRST sensor coupled with the radar and GPS, land attack capabilities. Development started at the beginning of '90s. The US Navy was interested but didn't adopt the system and the Italian Navy abandon the project the cost being too high for Italian navy alone.
MILAS: ASW
version with a light torpedo in the nose, 55 km range and compatibility with Otomat standard systems. The MILAS program started in the '80s, and was finally adopted only by Italian Navy, the French Navy withdrawing from the program to due to cost.
Otomat Mk 2 Block IV: latest version, also called Teseo Mk2/A (for the Marina Militare), with a new electronic set, partially derived from Marte Mk 2/S missile program. The TG-2 (data-link for helicopters) is abolished, because the ship is capable to guide the missile directly (as happened with ERATO) with information given by external platform with OTH engagements. The missile is capable of: re-attack, 3-D mission planning, coordinate attacks, capability to operate in littoral theaters, and attack with terminal evasive maneuvers. GPS is added and so the weapon can attack also land targets. In May 2006, Teseo MK2/A was successfully test fired for the first time. This variant will in due course be deployed on the Italian variant of the Franco-Italian FREMM frigate. Teseo MK2/A has entered service with the Italian Navy in 2007. Currently it is available on the export market and has been purchased by export customers in 2008.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Ship class
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Ships
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Submodel
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
|
|
Orizzonte class destroyer
Durand de la Penne class destroyer
Bergamini class frigate (FREMM)
Maestrale class frigate
Artigliere class frigate
|2
2
-
8
4
|Teseo Mk2/A
Teseo Mk2/A, Milas
Teseo Mk2/A, Milas
Teseo Mk2
Teseo Mk2
|Provision only on Horizon class
Provision only on Bergamini class - Milas only on ASW version
|-----
|
|
Vosper Mk.7 class frigate
Combattante II class FAC
|1
9
|Otomat Mk1
Otomat Mk1
|The frigate (Dat Assawari) is now a training hulk
Two not operational
|-----
|
|
De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser
Carvajal class frigate
Lupo class frigate
|1
4
4
|Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk2
|
|-----
|
|Mariscal Sucre class frigate
Federacion class FAC
|6
3
|Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk2
|
|-----
|
|Ramadan class missile boat
October class missile boat
|6
4
|Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk1
|Otomat Mk2 are also deployed in coastal defense batteries
2 units retired
|-----
|
|Laksamana class corvette
|4
|Otomat Mk2
|
|-----
|
|Ulsan class frigate
|1
|Otomat Mk2
|
|-----
|
|MEKO 360H1 class frigate
|1
|Otomat Mk2
|
|-----
|
|Nyayo class FAC
|2
|Otomat Mk1
|removed during 2011 refitting
|-----
|
|Al-Medinah class frigate
|4
|Otomat Mk2
|Uses ERATO mid-course data uplink
Otomat is also deployed in coastal batteries
|-----
|
|Assad class corvette
|2
|Otomat Mk2
|Interned at La Spezia, Italy since 1990
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
-built, anti-ship
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
and coastal attack missile
Surface-to-surface missile
A surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving...
first built by the Italian company Oto Melara
Oto Melara
Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. 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...
jointly with Matra
Matra
Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...
and now made by MBDA
MBDA
MBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
.
The name comes, for the first version, from the name of the two builders (OTO Melara MATra) and, for the last versions, from the Italian word for Theseus
Theseus
For other uses, see Theseus Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus, or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were...
.
Origins
The Otomat missile program started in 1967, the same year in which the Israeli destroyer EilatHMS Zealous (R39)
HMS Zealous was a Z-class destroyer of the Royal Navy built in 1944 by Cammell Laird. She served during the Second World War, participating in operations in the North Sea and off the Norwegian coast, before taking part in some of the Arctic convoys...
was sunk by three Soviet-made P-15 Termit
P-15 Termit
The P-15 Termit is an anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union's Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. Its GRAU designation was 4K40, its NATO reporting name was Styx or SS-N-2. In Russian service today it also seems to be called the Rubezh...
anti-ship missiles. This event raised awareness about the effectiveness of such weapons and prompted the development of similar systems in Western countries, such as the Harpoon
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
in the United States. However, it is unknown whether the Otomat program started before or after the Eilat event.
The Otomat program was undertaken by the Italian Oto Melara
Oto Melara
Oto Melara is an Italian defence company with factories in Brescia and La Spezia. It was founded in 1905 as a joint venture of Vickers and Terni. 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...
corporation in cooperation with the French Matra
Matra
Mécanique Aviation Traction or Matra was a French company covering a wide range of activities mainly related to automobile, bicycles, aeronautics and weaponry. In 1994, it became a subsidiary of the Lagardère Group and now operates under that name.Matra was owned by the Floirat family...
Corporation. The aim was to develop an anti-ship missile powered by a turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
which would allow more range and a heavier warhead than rocket-powered missiles then being developed in Europe such as the French Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
and the German Kormoran
AS.34 Kormoran
The AS.34 Kormoran is a German-produced Anti-ship missile. The Kormoran uses an inertial guidance system for the midcourse phase, switching to active radar homing during the terminal attack phase. It carries a 165 kg delay-fused warhead, designed for 90mm of penetration prior to detonation...
. Trials started in 1971 and development of the Mk1 version of the Otomat officially ended in 1974.
However, at that time, the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
chose the wholly French Exocet over the Franco-Italian Otomat as its standard anti-ship missile. Thus, the Italian Navy
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
remained as the only launch customer for the missile; it entered service on January 1976, before the commissioning
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
of the warship intended to carry it, the Lupo class frigate
Lupo class frigate
The Lupo class is a class of frigates built by Cantieri Navali Riuniti for the Italian Navy. Designed as multipurpose warships with emphasis on anti-surface warfare , they have enjoyed some success in the export market, being acquired by the navies of Peru and Venezuela...
.. These early Otomat missiles lacked a data link
Data link
In telecommunication a data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information. It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a receiver and the interconnecting data telecommunication circuit...
for over-the-horizon targeting, which limited its effective range to 60 km, a similar figure to the Exocet. To solve this problem, development of a Mk2 version started in May 1973, with a first test launch in January 1974, development completed in 1976, and the first over-the-horizon launch in 1978.. By the end of 1976 OTO Melara had reported that 210 Otomats had been sold: Italy 48, Peru 40, Venezuela 12, and Libya 110. Also at this time there were negotiations under way for the sale of 296 more missiles to various nations (i.e. Italy 48, Egypt 30, Venezuela 48, Libya 120, Indonesia 50).
A Mk2 Block II version was introduced in the 1980s, it featured folding wings so that the missile could now fit in a smaller launch boxes. This reduction in size allowed a doubling in the number of missiles carried, usually from four to eight. Even so, Otomat Mk2 Block II remained bulkier than contemporary versions of Harpoon and Exocet missiles due to its greater diameter and its boosters being fitted to its flanks instead of in the rear.
Description
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
capable of reaching around 180 km at an average speed of 1,000-1,100 km/h. It is stored and launched in a fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
box which weighs 1,610 kg fully loaded. This container has a rectangular shape to accommodate the fixed wings of the missile and an inclination of 15 degrees. At launch, the boosters propel the missile up to a height of 200 m before the main engine starts and a descent to 20 m is made. Otomat Mk2 missiles have a data-link for mid-course updates. They are designed to strike their targets in a 180 m dive or in a sea-skimming mode at an altitude of 2 m with a 210 kg warhead capable piercing up to 80 mm of steel. The warhead is designed to explode inside the ship with the force of the explosion directed to the bottom of the target ship.
Technical data are: 4.46 m length, 40 cm diameter, 1.35 wingspan, 770 kg launch weight.
The mid-fuselage fuel tank has a capcity of 90 liters, behind the fuel tank is the TR-281 ARBIZON III engine, a simple turbo-jet. The twin ROXEL boosters weigh 75 kg each, and provide an acceleration of 6 g for four seconds.
The Turboméca TR.281 Arbizon III is a jet engine of 400 kg/t., around 50% more powerful than the Harpoon's engine, the Willis turbojet that has 272 kg/t. This latter engine is apparently used also on the bigger BGM-109 so this has lower speed (around 800 km/h compared to 1,000). Air intakes are an unusual number, four, all placed forward the wings, at mid-fuselage (as example Harpoon and Tomawhak have only one), contribuing to the characteristic, complex shape of this missile.
Power available has made possible to fit in the bulky fuselage a high fuel reserve, heavy warhead and a data-link (Mk 2 model) to receive updates, at least once when in flight to the target.
The flight controls are four foldable stearable main wings, and four tail control winglets. Structure is made of light alloys, mainly aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. The Radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
active seeker has a range, in the Italian version, of around 8 km with a medium sized target, but usually it is activated at a shorter distance (see typical mission).
The warhead
Warhead
The term warhead refers to the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.- Etymology :During the early development of naval torpedoes, they could be equipped with an inert payload that was intended for use during training, test firing and exercises. This...
is in the front, behind the radar section and forward the radio-altimeter and some other electronic systems. The HE warhead is of the semi-armour piercing type and has a 65 kg Hertol type filler (for comparison, Kormoran missiles have 165 kg warheads, 56 kg is the HE main charge, plus 16 radial small charges to explode well inside the ship after the main explosion, and the armour piercing capability is around 7–8 cm).
In a typical layout, there are 4-8 fiber-glass boxes, with the missile inside, held by a rail in the roof. The overall weight is 1,610 kg.
Data-links are included in the TESEO or ERATO control systems. ERATO has computerized consoles CLIO, while TESEO has MM/OJ-791 consoles, weighing 570 kg with 4 kW electric power requirement. The Data-link is called the PRT400 system, and the components are the PTR402 designation for missile (as receiver), PRT401 designation for the transmitter (shipborn) or PTR403 (carried by helicopter). Other systems fittable are PRT404 system for light ships and PRT405 system for helicopters.
Overall strengths of this missile are long range, speed, sea-skimming capabilities and a powerful warhead.
Weakness are the need for a helicopter for mid-course guidance and a quite difficult uplink in the TESEO system (at least in the original model), big dimensions (affecting radar cross section RCS and IR signature), the lack of complex manoeuvres (synchronization of attacks, re-engagement capabilities, ECCM capability not up to current standards and never publicized), and the availability of surface versions only: no submarine and aircraft versions were developed.
This caused problems to the services that acquired these anti-ship missiles: Italian forces use Otomat (ships), Marte (helicopters), Kormoran
AS.34 Kormoran
The AS.34 Kormoran is a German-produced Anti-ship missile. The Kormoran uses an inertial guidance system for the midcourse phase, switching to active radar homing during the terminal attack phase. It carries a 165 kg delay-fused warhead, designed for 90mm of penetration prior to detonation...
(Tornados), Harpoons
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
(not confirmed for submarines). Given the necessity to buy other totally different missile systems, many customers simply bought a 'family of missile systems' as in the Harpoon series and the Exocet family with obvious operative and economic advantages.
Typical mission
In terms of technology and operability, this missile, while almost unknown the general public having not been involved in a war, presents a very powerful anti-ship weapon and perhaps the most powerful of all modern western anti-ship missiles having a mid course data-link.No particular manoeuvres are required by the ship: the missiles are capable of changing course after the launch up to 200° so all the missiles in the ship could be used against the same target
Targeting (warfare)
Targeting is the process used to select objects or installations to be attacked, taken, or destroyed in warfare.Technologically advanced countries can generally select their targets in such a way as to minimize collateral damage and civilian casualties. This can fall by the wayside, however, during...
in one attack.
This allows for quick reaction times as the ship does not need to change direction to unmask the missile batteries. This allows the ship to fire all missiles against a target regardless of where they are place aboard.
Flight
The boosters made by ROXEL, are positioned at the flanks, gives enough speed allowing the turbojet to start, while the wings opens, then the missile reach in 4 seconds 250 m/s speed and 200 m heightHeight
Height is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
, stabilizes his flight
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
and descends to 20 m cruising at low altitude. At this time the auto-pilot and the altimeter make possible hold the right directions to the target. The missile flies at around 1,000 km/h controlled with the four cross winglets in the aft, behind the main fixed wings to sustain the weapon.
Mid-course update is possible with several systems. This weapon system is called TESEO (only the missile is called Otomat) in the Italian Navy, and the mid-course is given with two channels: by the ship itself (TG-1) and with external sources, available in the Agusta Bell AB-212 ASW helicopter's final production batch, that uses TG-2.
While the missiles flies it receive the input at mid-course, then, at only 6 km from the target activates the onboard radar to reduce reaction time from the target. This could be of two models: the simpler ST-2 made by SMA (Italian missiles) and the more complex and ambitious CSF 'Col vert', for French made missiles (only for export, since the French Navy had not adopted them). There is a large difference in the seekers, because the first is a one axis, two dimensional radar system: the weapon simply continues to fly to the ship, with the altitude falling from 20 to, in good sea conditions, 2-3m. The warhead is heavy, 210 kg (Exocet 165, Harpoon 227) and the explosive blast is focused downward, attempting to blast a hole in the ship bottom sinking rather than just damaging the vessel. The Col Vert version of the missile performs pop up flight to 180 m at around 2 km from the target and then dives on the ship, aiming at the decks to maximise damage..
The Col Vert version seems to have suffered problems in service with issues from sea state wave clutter. The popup and final dive attack the Col Vert version of Otomat were designed to fool CIWS fire solutions. A similar approach was used in the US Harpoon system, then abandoned. Sensors in this variant are more complex and costly than the simpler sea skimming models, and while more capable to penetrate air defences, they may have not shown a decisive superiority, even if tecnologically more sophisticated.
Mid-course datalink
The mid-course data uplink was originally provided by two different systems: TESEO and ERATO.The ERATO (Extended Range Air Targeting for Otomat) system, used by the Al-Madinah class frigates, is the French version for mid-course guidance of the Otomat missile. In this case updated target information is provided to the ship which controls up to 16 missiles. This allows a multi-ship launch (Madinas have eight missiles each) and single ship control of an Otomat salvo for coordinated attack. The downside of this system is that the Otomat missile must rise to a 900 meter altitude to achieved uplink data. This could theoretically warn a target ship of the impending attack, but there are few possibilities to notice such small missiles at ranges of more than a few dozen kilometers.. Maximum range for data-link is 100 km, limiting somewhat the missile's maximum range. It is possible to send up to six corrections for each missile, and attack up to six differently targets at once. Consoles are called CLIO, integrated with ship's combat system.
TESEO is used by the Italian Navy Marina Militare
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
(MMI or MM) and not allowing updated from the ship, do not needs altitude variations in the flight for missiles.
The limiting factor with the Otomat as incorporated in the TESEO system is that the AB-212 ASW Helo platform used for update has a limited radar range of no more than 60 km (with a 2,000 m2 RCS target, typically a frigate or destroyer), and will be hovering and stationary to allow the missile to fly under it and guide Otomat to its target. If the target ship has a medium range SAM suite like RIM-66 Standard
RIM-66 Standard
The RIM-66 Standard MR is a medium range surface-to-air missile originally developed for the United States Navy . The SM-1 was developed as a replacement for the RIM-2 Terrier and RIM-24 Tartar that were deployed in the 1950s on a variety of USN ships...
missiles, and is aware of the danger (with radar and ESM
ESM
-Science and technology:* Earth System Model, a highly advanced form of Global climate model* Election Stock Market* Electron Scanning Microscope* Electronic Support Measures, the military technique of tactical electronic intelligence gathering...
suites), the AB-212 helo's lifespan could be limited to mere seconds, as it is much bigger than anti-ship missiles.
TESEO system requires that the missile fly under the helicopter, allowing the engagement of only one target at a time (even if with two missiles), the missiles must be launched to helicopter and so, this one must fly practically fixed for several minutes, while the missiles must fly a longer flight path, being this launch a non linear flight path.
In addition the AB-212 helo is old, slow and vulnerable to any air platform with even minimal AAW capabilities. AB-212ASW speed is listed at 196 km/h, slower than the land model AB 212, with 185 km/h max. cruise speed. The other widespread naval helicopters, Westland Lynx
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
, Eurocopter Dauphin
Eurocopter Dauphin
The Eurocopter SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter .-Design and development:...
and Sikorsky Seahawks are all far faster and the four blades rotor allows very good agility, compared to the old two blades rotor. Concern is also centered around ECM measures against older weapons system with a relatively primitive uplink system. A further complication is that the AB-212 will take up to an hour to reach Otomat's maximum range (in the meanwhile, a jet interceptor can fly easily for more than 900 km), as time in combat is a valuable commodity. All these problems are at least partially solved in Madina' frigates, that have ERATO data link system and AS-365 Dauphin helicopters, capable of almost 300 km/h.
Developments
A version called Otomach was proposed as a further improvement on the Mk2, with a speed of MachMach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
1.8. However, further evaluations found that stealth was better than speed at penetrating warship defenses so the project was dropped. In 1992, the Italian government started the development of a new generation anti-ship missile designated Otomat Mk3 with a disbursement of 19 million. Meanwhile, the French Navy chose to pursue the ANS/ANNG/ANF project for a supersonic missile, thereby ending French involvement in the development of the Otomat.
The Mk3 version was named at one point Ulisse, the Italian name for the mythical hero Odysseus
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
. With development starting twenty years after the Mk1 version, the Mk3 was a quite different weapon. The guidance package was updated with new IR and radar sensors in the nose, a GPS navigation system and an updated data link to allow the engagement of coastal targets. To improve the missile chances of hitting, its nose and wing shapes were optimized for a reduced radar cross section
Radar cross section
Radar cross section is a measure of how detectable an object is with a radar. A larger RCS indicates that an object is more easily detected.An object reflects a limited amount of radar energy...
(RCS). Range was improved to 250–300 km while keeping the same dimensions of the previous versions. The warhead was kept at 210 kg but fitted with an armored casing and less sensitive explosives
Insensitive munitions
Insensitive munitions are munitions that are chemically stable enough to withstand mechanical shocks, fire, and impact by shrapnel, but that can still explode as intended to destroy their targets.-Description:...
which lowered its chances of being destroyed by close-in weapon system
Close-in weapon system
A close-in weapon system , often pronounced sea-whiz, is a naval shipboard point-defense weapon for detecting and destroying at short range incoming anti-ship missiles and enemy aircraft which have penetrated the outer defenses....
s. Three Otomat missiles were test launched in 1994-1995 with IR guidance and the new data link with good results. At this stage, an air launched version was also considered for improved versatility. The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
(USN) showed interest in this missile for many years as an as intermediate system between the Harpoon
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
and the Tomahawk
BGM-109 Tomahawk
The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile. Introduced by General Dynamics in the 1970s, it was designed as a medium- to long-range, low-altitude missile that could be launched from a surface platform. It has been improved several times and, by way of corporate divestitures...
. However, the USN withdrew from the program in 1999 and it was soon canceled as the Italian Navy
Marina Militare
The Italian Navy is the navy of the Italian Republic. It is one of the four branches of military forces of Italy; formed in 1946, from what remained of the Regia Marina . As of 2008, the Italian Navy had 35,200 active personnel with 180 commissioned ships, 19 Floating Docks, and 123 aircraft...
was unable to fully fund its development.
The latest version of the Otomat is the Mk2 Block IV, also called Teseo Mk2/A. It has a new data link which allows its flight to be controlled from the ship via the Teseo system in a similar way to Erato. GPS is also fitted allowing programmable flight trajectories with complex paths. The Italian Navy ordered 38 missiles of this version, 27 for operational use and 11 for training purposes with an estimated in-service date of 2008.
A separate path led to the development of Milas, an anti-submarine variant of the Otomat. It started in 1986 as a Franco-Italian program for a missile capable of delivering a lightweight anti-submarine torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
. The first test launch took place in 1989, ten more launches with torpedoes fitted had taken place by 1993. Tests ended in 1999, however, by that time France had lost interest in the system even though it had originally proposed the idea as a replacement for its own Malafon
Malafon
Malafon was a French ship-launched anti-submarine missile system. Developed in the 1950s and 60s, the weapon was intended to take advantage of the greater detection ranges possible with towed sonar arrays. The missile entered service in 1966 and was manufactured by Groupe LatécoèreThe weapon is...
system. Thus, Milas entered service in 2002 with the Italian Navy only, after almost 20 years of development. Milas is an all weather day/night system with a maximum range of 55 km. It can put a torpedo in the water at 35 km of its launch platform within three minutes and, if required, change its impact point while flying. Only a few Milas missiles are in service, deployed on the two Durand de La Penne class destroyer
Durand de la Penne class destroyer
The Durand de la Penne class destroyers are two guided missile destroyers operated by the Marina Militare, the Italian navy. The design is an updated version of the Audace class destroyers but these ships are larger, have CODOG machinery and modern sensors...
s..
The only other variant in service is a coastal defense version bought by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and ordered by Iraq but never delivered to that country. All necessary electronics are trailer-mounted as well as twin missile launchers, which makes it a high mobility system. Even so, Iraq had planned to deploy it in fixed armored sites..
Testing and the future of Otomat
Thare is no known combat use of Otomat but there were many tests, like the one happened in 1987, when a Venezuelan Lupo frigate hit an old US destroyer used as target at 122 km, leaving a 6 m hole in it. Flight took a little over than 400 seconds. In another example at least 8 missiles were bought by US Navy: thanks to a new evasive, final maneuver, the majority of these weapons, called LRAT (Long Range Attack Target) penetrated inside the formidable missile defenses of US ships.In all by all, this missile was and is a very powerful weapon. Without helicopter provided mid-course guidance (especially in presence of enemy fighters), this weapon is still capable of striking well over the horizon. A range of 50 km can be covered with the ship's sensors and missiles like MM.38 Exocet are at their optimum. Between 50–120 km is the range that weapons like Harpoon
Harpoon
A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument used in fishing to catch fish or large marine mammals such as whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal, allowing the fishermen to use a rope or chain attached to the butt of the projectile to catch the animal...
, which have over the horizon capabilities but no data-link update, come into play. At ranges longer than that a target moving in unpredicted directions will give such weapons little or no chance to acquire their target. Finally, over 120 km is where the need for a long range weapon, external targeting platforms and data-linked updates come into play as only with course and target position updating can any long range missile have a chance of engaging a moving target at these ranges. This is the typical capability of the Otomat and long range soviet missiles. In short range engagements, the Otomat does not have any advantage since it is bigger than other missiles and presents a larger target to shoot down.
The possibilities of commercial success are not good today, since this weapon is related mainly with the operation Italian warships, now not so much of a commercial export success as in previous decades. The management of both the missiles-Exocet and Otomat are now under the MBDA company control, so while in actually in competition with one another Otomat has fared worse in the world's market place to the famous and combat proven Exocet under the MBDA firm..
MILAS was conceptualized when the USSR was the main threat, during the Cold War. After 1991, the necessity to have outstanding ASW weapons systems was seen as being reduced with many ex USSR submarines rusting beside piers, and so MILAS is not destined to be a widespread weapon either, despite it is fully adaptable to the standard launch system used for Otomat.
Submodels
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
s (compared to 3,000 Exocet
Exocet
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
s and 6,000 Harpoons).
This is the complete family, in chronological order:
Otomat Mk 1: first model, without data link, 60 km practical range, service from 1976
Otomat Mk 2 Block I: first model with data-link, 180 km range, first over the horizon launch in 1978
Otomat Mk 2 Block II: it had foldable wings, allowing the use of smaller boxes, and so using two missiles instead of one. It started to appear in '80s, though it took considerable time to replace the first model.
Otomat Mk 2 Block III: new INS
Inertial navigation system
An inertial navigation system is a navigation aid that uses a computer, motion sensors and rotation sensors to continuously calculate via dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references...
navigation system, 'insensible' warhead, new, safer solid propellent for boosters, improved data link to allow TESEO to guide missiles also from the ship directly. It is not known when it entered service.
Otomat Mk 3/NGASM/ULISSE: new version with longer range, stealth design (both shape and materials), IRST sensor coupled with the radar and GPS, land attack capabilities. Development started at the beginning of '90s. The US Navy was interested but didn't adopt the system and the Italian Navy abandon the project the cost being too high for Italian navy alone.
MILAS: ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
version with a light torpedo in the nose, 55 km range and compatibility with Otomat standard systems. The MILAS program started in the '80s, and was finally adopted only by Italian Navy, the French Navy withdrawing from the program to due to cost.
Otomat Mk 2 Block IV: latest version, also called Teseo Mk2/A (for the Marina Militare), with a new electronic set, partially derived from Marte Mk 2/S missile program. The TG-2 (data-link for helicopters) is abolished, because the ship is capable to guide the missile directly (as happened with ERATO) with information given by external platform with OTH engagements. The missile is capable of: re-attack, 3-D mission planning, coordinate attacks, capability to operate in littoral theaters, and attack with terminal evasive maneuvers. GPS is added and so the weapon can attack also land targets. In May 2006, Teseo MK2/A was successfully test fired for the first time. This variant will in due course be deployed on the Italian variant of the Franco-Italian FREMM frigate. Teseo MK2/A has entered service with the Italian Navy in 2007. Currently it is available on the export market and has been purchased by export customers in 2008.
Operators
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Navy! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Ship class
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! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Submodel
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Orizzonte class destroyer
Horizon class frigate
The Horizon Common New Generation Frigate is a multi-national collaboration to produce a new generation of anti-air warfare frigates. Originally an alliance of Britain, France and Italy, the project is now a French/Italian effort following the withdrawal of Britain due to differing requirements...
Durand de la Penne class destroyer
Durand de la Penne class destroyer
The Durand de la Penne class destroyers are two guided missile destroyers operated by the Marina Militare, the Italian navy. The design is an updated version of the Audace class destroyers but these ships are larger, have CODOG machinery and modern sensors...
Bergamini class frigate (FREMM)
Maestrale class frigate
Maestrale class frigate
The Maestrale class is a class of frigate in the Marina Militare . The class is composed of eight vessels, all of which were built by Fincantieri S.p. A, Riva Trigoso, except for Grecale, which was built by Fincantieri S.p.A...
Artigliere class frigate
|2
2
-
8
4
|Teseo Mk2/A
Teseo Mk2/A, Milas
Teseo Mk2/A, Milas
Teseo Mk2
Teseo Mk2
|Provision only on Horizon class
Provision only on Bergamini class - Milas only on ASW version
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Vosper Mk.7 class frigate
Combattante II class FAC
|1
9
|Otomat Mk1
Otomat Mk1
|The frigate (Dat Assawari) is now a training hulk
Two not operational
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De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser
De Zeven Provinciën class cruiser
The De Zeven Provinciën-class is a class of light cruisers. They were built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij and Wilton-Fijenoord for the Royal Netherlands Navy...
Carvajal class frigate
Lupo class frigate
The Lupo class is a class of frigates built by Cantieri Navali Riuniti for the Italian Navy. Designed as multipurpose warships with emphasis on anti-surface warfare , they have enjoyed some success in the export market, being acquired by the navies of Peru and Venezuela...
Lupo class frigate
Lupo class frigate
The Lupo class is a class of frigates built by Cantieri Navali Riuniti for the Italian Navy. Designed as multipurpose warships with emphasis on anti-surface warfare , they have enjoyed some success in the export market, being acquired by the navies of Peru and Venezuela...
|1
4
4
|Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk2
|
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|Mariscal Sucre class frigate
Lupo class frigate
The Lupo class is a class of frigates built by Cantieri Navali Riuniti for the Italian Navy. Designed as multipurpose warships with emphasis on anti-surface warfare , they have enjoyed some success in the export market, being acquired by the navies of Peru and Venezuela...
Federacion class FAC
|6
3
|Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk2
|
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|Ramadan class missile boat
Ramadan class missile boat
Ramadan class missile boat has been in service with the Egyptian Navy since 1981, commissioned from the UK:-Number of units:6 ships:* 670 Ramadan* 672 Khybar* 674 El Kadesseya* 676 El Yarmouk* 678 Badr* 680 Hetteen-Description:...
October class missile boat
October class missile boat
The Egyptian Navy wanting to acquire a cheap alternative for the aging Komar class missile boats, decided to build a modern missile boat based on the Komar hull design with modifications and upgrades in the Alexandria Shipyards in the late 1970s...
|6
4
|Otomat Mk2
Otomat Mk1
|Otomat Mk2 are also deployed in coastal defense batteries
2 units retired
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|Laksamana class corvette
Laksamana Class Corvette
The Laksamana Class is a class of small missile corvettes comprising 4 ships currently in service with the Royal Malaysian Navy.-History:...
|4
|Otomat Mk2
|
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|Ulsan class frigate
|1
|Otomat Mk2
|
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|MEKO 360H1 class frigate
MEKO 360
The MEKO 360 is a class of five destroyers built in Germany for the Argentine and Nigerian Navies. The 360 was the first ship of the MEKO family of vessels built by Blohm und Voss.-Variants:...
|1
|Otomat Mk2
|
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|Nyayo class FAC
|2
|Otomat Mk1
|removed during 2011 refitting
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|Al-Medinah class frigate
|4
|Otomat Mk2
|Uses ERATO mid-course data uplink
Otomat is also deployed in coastal batteries
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|Assad class corvette
Assad class corvette
The Assad class corvette were originally built for Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War, by Fincantieri in Italy. Six ships were ordered in 1981. They were completed just before Operation Desert Storm, and were never delivered because of the UN arms embargo. Four of the six ships were sold to the...
|2
|Otomat Mk2
|Interned at La Spezia, Italy since 1990