The hull of the Breda M42 was virtually identical to that of the M42 as it was in service with the US Army. Certainly, the addition of radar to the vehicle created a potent and cost-effective short-range air defense – ideal for an export market. Unfortunately, there is no information as to which country the upgrade was aimed at or if it was just a general upgrade on open international offer. Many of these countries had received their M42s via post-reunification German vehicle stockpiles. Countries that did use the M42A1 at the time included Austria, Greece, Guatemala, Jordan, Lebanon, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, and Venezuela. This was not aimed at the Italian market, as Italy did not operate the M42A1 for air defense, even though it did operate some vehicles which used the same chassis. In 1992, the Italian firm Breda Meccanica Bresciana based in Milan offered a new and cheap light air defense vehicle based on this surplus M42A1 platform. M163 Vulcan Air Defence System which replaced the M42A1. As a result, in 1992, the Italian firm of Breda was looking at the vehicle as a basis for a new light air defense system still based around the 40 mm Bofors but with a new turret and features. The M42 (upgraded to the M42A1 standard) remained in US service until 1969 when it was replaced with the Vulcan air defense system, although some were still in National Guard service until 1991.Įven using this early Cold War era chassis, the vehicle was seen to have some value as a light, cheap, and available platform. Standardized in October 1953, the vehicle remained in production in the US at the Cleveland Tank Plant until June 1956 and at ACF Industries, Berwick, Pennsylvania until December 1953. Starting life as the T141 and designed by Cadillac Motors, the first prototype was ready in late 1951 and was pushed into production. Beginning as a design in 1951, the M42, using the twin 40 mm Bofors M19A1 guns, soon became the standard SPAAG for the US Army. The M42 ‘Duster’ was an open-topped self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) based on the hull of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank. Maximum firing range against naval targets is 20 km.Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun – Design Only This air defense weapon can be used for combat support operations, convoy's defense or point defense. Also it can be used against ground targets. The Draco SPAAG is intended to engage air targets, such as helicopters, aircraft, UAV and air-launched weapons. Secondary armament consists of a single coaxial 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun or 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Weight of the Draco turret was significantly reduced due to improvements in electronics over the last two decades. The previous Otomatic turret was much heavier and needed a tank chassis. The Draco can engage helicopters before they release their anti-tank guided weapons. Such range is similar of the current hybrid gun-missile air defense systems. Such a powerful gun was selected because of its long range. Modern SPAAGs are usually fitted with 20-40 mm guns. Twenty four additional rounds are stored in the automatic magazine, located in the hull. Ammunition revolver contains 12 indexed rounds and can shift from one type of ammunition to another. Rate of fire is 80-100 rounds per minute. It can use all standard 76 mm ammunition, guided DART ammunition, C-Ram and top-attack ammunition. The gun is completed with an automatic revolver-type ammunition loading system. It is a remotely-operated turret, armed with a 76 mm rapid firing naval gun. Currently this system is being offered for possible customers, however it received no production orders to date. The Otomatic outperformed many anti-aircraft artillery systems, however was never accepted to service. It is a further development of the previous Otomatic SPAAG developed in the mid 80s. The Draco self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was developed by OTO Melara as a private venture.
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