Bull's Eye Munition Aimed at Smugglers
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edited by Robert H. Williams
A new 76 mm round, tagged ART, or ammunition at reduced time of flight, is
being touted as a non-lethal means of stopping oceangoing smugglers of weapons
of mass destruction.
Conceived by Italian company Oto Melara, the extended-range munition can disable
the rudder of a ship without sinking the vessel or injuring the crew. This means
that ships smuggling sensitive contraband, such as nuclear materials or missiles,
can be stopped on the high seas if they try to evade law enforcement organizations,
said Carlo Alberto Iardello, chief executive officer.
ART will be available with a programmable explosive warhead for military uses
against threats such as swarming boats and sea-skimming missiles. The rocket-shaped
round also is designed for anti-ship and anti-aircraft roles.
The company claims that ART does not require any modification of existing 76
mm gun systems in use by the United States, NATO or more than 50 other countries
around the globe.