Italy adds powerful drone-killer gun to strengthen air defense system

Italy is enhancing its missile defense capabilities by integrating the Hystrix 76 Air Defence System (ADS) into its AI-driven Michelangelo Dome multi-domain defense network. Developed by Leonardo, the Hystrix 76 is a remotely operated, land-adapted version of a 76-millimeter naval gun designed to counter low-flying, maneuvering aerial threats such as drones, missiles, and diving aircraft. It fills critical “dead zones” in Italy’s missile shield by providing rapid, close-range firepower with a variety of advanced munitions, including proximity-fused high-explosive shells, programmable rounds, and DART guided munitions. Future upgrades include infrared or laser-guided Vulcano 76 rounds currently in late-stage development. The Hystrix 76 system offers 360-degree coverage with gun elevation from five degrees below to eighty-five degrees above the horizon, enabling engagement of targets from nearly any direction. It is remotely operated via a secure data link and supported by a C-band