SIDAM 25

The Sidam 25 is a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun developed in Italy from the chassis of the American M113 armoured personnel carrier. Due to the choice of basic chassis for the Sidam 25, components and spare parts were both cheap, and readily available due to the widespread use of the basic M113. Beginning production in 1987, OTO Breda built a large turret to accommodate the four Oerlikon KBA cannons and remodelled the hull of the M113 slightly to provide side-access to the internal space of the vehicle by the addition of a side-mounted door.

Armament
The Oerlikon KBA cannon has an effective range of about 2,000 m and can engage low-flying targets with accuracy within that range. Firing at 2,400 rounds per minute, the turret contains 600 rounds of high-explosive fragmentation ammunition providing, usually, eight bursts of fire for around two seconds each. An internal magazine also houses 30 armour-piercing rounds that can be used against enemy vehicles. The turret can rotate through 360° and the guns can be raised 87° or lowered 5° from the horizontal position.

Fire control and observation
Target engagement is made using an optronic fire control system and a laser rangefinder, but due to the lack of radar reduces its targeting capability in deteriorated weather conditions.

Propulsion
The Sidam 25 is powered by a single 6-cylinder Detroit 6V-53 engine, which will deliver 215 hp and drive the Sidam 25 to a top road speed of 68 km/h and allow the vehicle to climb vertical obstacles of 0.6 m in height and climb gradients with a 60% incline and cross trenches up to 1.7 m wide.