Italy reveals future armoured vehicle upgrade plans
The latest AFV to enter service with the Italian Army is the Centauro 2 which has been developed by CIO and was recently selected by the Brazilian Army. (Photo: CIO)
Italy plans a mixture of upgrades and new acquisitions to refresh its ground combat capabilities.
Speaking at the International Armoured Vehicles 2023 conference near London, Maj Gen Francesco Olla, Head of III Department (Military Policy and Planning) of the Italian Army, gave a broad outline outline of future developments for the Italian Army's AFV fleet.
In the short term, the Ariete MBT will have its life extended to enable it to be operational until 2035, but it was not disclosed how many of the 200 tanks built will be upgraded.
The current Dardo tracked IFV and some specialised members of the M113 family of vehicles such as command post, ambulance and mortar carrier variants will
Access this article and other Decisive Edge Newsletter news content with a free basic account
Create account
You will also get one free Premium News article each week
Already have an account? Log in
More from Decisive Edge Newsletter
-
![Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ exercise in Top End reaches unprecedented scale in face of Chinese military build up]()
Australia’s ‘Top Gun’ exercise in Top End reaches unprecedented scale in face of Chinese military build up
Fast-jet exercise focuses on interoperability and cooperation between allies amid growing regional security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.
-
![Boeing details expansion and improvements for P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft]()
Boeing details expansion and improvements for P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft
The P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, based on the Boeing 737NG airliner, is a replacement for the US Navy's fleet of P-3 Orions. It is also being targeted at other users of ageing P-3 aircraft with several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, taking up the option.
-
![Australia awards contracts for UAS platforms]()
Australia awards contracts for UAS platforms
The orders break new ground for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as they include an order for loitering munitions, the purchase of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) and the first order for SkyMantis 2 in the region.
-
![Israeli Defence Forces aims to make remote-controlled ground systems autonomous]()
Israeli Defence Forces aims to make remote-controlled ground systems autonomous
The IDF has turned some of its unmanned M113 APCs into remotely controlled vehicles but it has also been exploring moves towards making the vehicles completely autonomous.
-
![Italy picks Rheinmetall and Leonardo for MBT and IFV and gives MGCS a boost]()
Italy picks Rheinmetall and Leonardo for MBT and IFV and gives MGCS a boost
Italy has been looking replace its Ariete MBTs but has gone back and forth between a future European tank, more Leopards, an upgrade of existing vehicles and other options. It now seems to have thrown its hand in with the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS).
-
![Sogitec combines Sword, Genius and HORUS for virtual/constructive demonstrator]()
Sogitec combines Sword, Genius and HORUS for virtual/constructive demonstrator
The French company has integrated its Genius UAS and HORUS helicopter simulators with MASA’s Sword constructive simulation as it aims to achieve operational orders by the end of 2025.
