An early MEKO fit looks unexpectedly useful against drones

The Argentine MEKO 360 combines Exocet missiles, a 5-inch gun, and four twin Bofors 40 mm mounts. Its combined gas-and-gas propulsion uses Olympus TM3 and Tyne RM1C gas turbines. Replacing the older weapons with modern equivalents would leave broad medium-calibre coverage around the ship. In the assessment here, two twin mounts, and often three, could bear on an approaching drone, bringing four to six barrels into action. That gives a small navy a gun option against targets for which using an air-defence missile may be questionable. Fragmentation from a nearby 40 mm shell would threaten such small drones. Guns could retain this role alongside electronic warfare and possible laser systems. The argument concerns an updated weapons fit, rather than a claim that the original equipment already provides modern counter-drone performance.