L3Harris Calzoni Celebrates 190 Years in Italy’s Naval Industry

L3Harris’ Calzoni business, founded in 1834 in Bologna, marked its 190th anniversary in 2025, highlighting its long-standing role in advancing naval technologies. Integrated into L3Harris’ Undersea Systems division since 2012, Calzoni has become a key player in both Italian and international naval sectors, known for integrated sensors, payload handling systems, and visual landing aids.

Calzoni’s early innovations began with Alessandro Calzoni’s application of oleo dynamic systems in agriculture. During World War I, the company transitioned to supplying systems for submarines and pioneered non-penetrating mast-raising equipment in the 1960s. Since the 1990s, it has been a core supplier to the U.S. Navy.

The company operates from an 11,000-square-meter facility in Calderara di Reno, Bologna, and in 2023 expanded with a 5,500-square-meter site dedicated to unmanned vehicles and ship handling systems. Calzoni now serves over 40 navies globally and is a market leader in systems such as snorkels, gas exhausts, and helicopter landing lights.

Recent innovations include:

- Hunterwater: A system-of-systems for minehunting using unmanned surface and underwater vehicles like Rovscan and Iver AUVs.
- ZHIVAGO: A patented autonomous launch and recovery system using cable robot and robotic motion technology.
- E-conversion technology: Powering azimuth thrusters, low-signature propulsion systems, and hoisting actuators for new Italian Navy submarines.

L3Harris emphasizes that this 190-year legacy is driven by a skilled workforce and a continuous focus on innovation, supporting its commitment to modernizing global naval capabilities.