CIO to deliver Centauro II vehicles to Italy
The Iveco - Oto Melara Consortium (CIO) has signed a contract with the Italian MoD for the delivery of ten Centauro II armoured vehicles to the Italian Army, Iveco Defence Vehicles announced on 24 July.
This is the first tranche out of a total 136 units. Under the contract, Leonardo will be responsible for the development and integration of the complete turret defence system, including the observation, targeting and communications systems.
The CIO contract, including vehicles, equipment and logistics, is worth $185.8 million and the contract value for Iveco Defence Vehicles amounts to around $75.9 million.
Centauro II vehicles feature increased power, better observation capability, mobility, ergonomics, firing range, communication and crew protection in comparison with its predecessor Centauro I.
The vehicles are equipped with a new power pack delivering over 700hp and with H-drive architecture, a hallmark of the 8x8 Centauro range. Centauro II features a complete digital system and a new generation turret mounting with a 120/45mm gun.
The armoured vehicle is capable of operating in any situations including national security missions, peace-keeping and support operations.
The CIO is a partnership between Iveco Defence Vehicles and Leonardo. Within the Consortium, Iveco Defence Vehicles is responsible for engines, gears and all the automotive components, the hull and the final integration of wheeled armoured vehicles while Leonardo is responsible for weapon systems, sight and fire control systems and the hull and the final integration of tracked armoured vehicles.
More from Land Warfare
-
DSEI 2025: Polaris displays new all-terrain vehicle with Alakran mortar system
The Polaris Government and Defense’s Military RZR (MRZR) Alpha 1KW was displayed at the Modern Day Marine exposition in the US earlier this year and with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system at DSEI. The company outlined recent firing trials with the Alakran mobile mortar weapon system (MMWS) which was weeks after the company announced a major NATO deal.
-
DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer
Thales launched Storm-H in 2012 as an EW system equipping individual dismounted troops, and a decade later revealed details to develop the improved and more powerful Storm 2.
-
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
-
Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system
The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.