Italian Navy orders amphibious armoured personnel carriers
The VBA is based on the SuperAV 8x8 design already selected by the USMC. (Photo: IDV)
IDV is to supply 36 8x8 Amphibious Armoured Vehicle personnel carriers to the Italian Navy's San Marco Naval Brigade.
On 22 December, Italy's Directorate of Land Armaments signed a contract with IDV for 36 Amphibious Armoured Vehicles (VBAs). This is part of a wider programme to renew and expand Italy's national armoured vehicle fleets, here aimed at increasing the sea projection capability of the navy.
The VBA 8x8 vehicle can be launched and recovered from an amphibious vessel in open ocean and is designed for high mobility and ballistic protection on land.
It is powered by a 700hp FPT Cursor 16 engine, coupled to an automatic seven-speed gearbox and driveline derived from that of the Centauro and VBM Freccia. The VBA has a maximum road speed of 105km/h, while two rear-mounted hydraulic propellers allow navigation 'beyond Sea State 3' and a top water speed of 6kt.
Related Articles
Fincantieri launches Italian Navy LHD
BAE Systems to expand ACV family with recovery variant
FNSS pushes ZAHA for Indonesian AAV requirement
The platform is equipped with a Leonardo HITROLE Light remote turret, with a 12.7mm machine gun.
The VBA design for the Italian Navy is based on the SuperAV 8x8 amphibious platform selected for the US Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme, provided in partnership with BAE Systems.
The vehicles will replace ageing in-service AAV7-A1 platforms. Shephard Defence Insight reports that the Italian Navy has an overall requirement for 64 VBAs and that trials with the current batch will inform future procurement, including of non-APC variants.
More from Land Warfare
-
![US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years]()
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
-
![Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack]()
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.
-
![Saab to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 near New Delhi as Swedish firm eyes Indian expansion]()
Saab to manufacture Carl-Gustaf M4 near New Delhi as Swedish firm eyes Indian expansion
Saab has planned to build “a streamlined ownership structure” in India to accelerate its investment plans and developing capabilities in the country.
-
![Japan orders THeMIS UGVs]()
Japan orders THeMIS UGVs
Milrem’s Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, multimission, hybrid UGV. The current fifth-generation model incorporates knowledge gained during tests in the US, Europe and the Middle East, as well as during field-deployment in Mali in the French-led Operation Barkhane.
-
![NATO orders more 155mm ammunition]()
NATO orders more 155mm ammunition
The contract, in the triple-digit million euro range, includes high explosive extended range projectiles, modular charges, fuzes and primers.
