BAE Systems and Iveco DV propose the 8x8 developed from the SuperAV for the US Marine Corps ACV 1.1 tender; the vehicle was downselected together with SAIC/STK Terrex 2. © BAE Systems
The latest version of the Patria’s AMV, the XP, was recently selected by Slovakia while the vehicle is being produced under license in various nations. © Patria
might be replaced by an 8x8 vehicle armed with a 120 mm gun.
In development The Italian Army decision to field two Medium Brigades, equipped with 8x8 armoured vehicles, led to the development of a series of new systems, all based on the H-shaped driveline adopted on the Centauro, the armoured car fitted with a 105 mm gun developed in the 1980s, which has seen action in most of the theatres of operation in which Italy was involved in the past decades. The one currently under delivery, and combat proven in Afghanistan, is the Freccia, the 8x8 AIFV fitted with a HITFIST 25 turret, also developed in specialist versions such as antitank, mortar carrier, and command post. The latter is under qualification following some changing of philosophy from the military. At Eurosatory 2016 the CIO, the Iveco-Oto Melara Consortium, unveiled the Centauro II, the new mobile gun system armed with a third generation 120/45 mm smoothbore gun, which can be replaced as option by a 105/52 mm rifled gun. A number of improvements were developed following trials, such as a new
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semi-automatic ammunition loading system and an improved indirect viewing system for the driver; furthermore, the Air to Surface Identification Device (ASID) was integrated in the vehicle while the Hitrole remotely controlled weapon station was moved in order to improve the commander’s periscope visibility. All those improvements will be part of the first four pre-production vehicles that will be built by the CIO with available funds, and will be used for qualification. Production is expected to start in late 2020, early 2021, seven more production vehicles being planned with current funding. Financing for further 371 million euro should be soon approved, allowing building 39 further vehicles, including logistic support. These should feature also a rear winch while their gun will be adapted for shooting airburst munitions, all those features being then retrofitted on the first 11 Centauro II. Coming to wheeled infantry combat vehicles, the one in service is the aforementioned Freccia. The CIO is already working on its successor, the Freccia Evolution, which prototype should be produced with funds allocated in 2016; part of the 324.9 million euro will be used to produce over 30 Freccia in the antitank, mortar carrier and command post configurations, aimed at the second