Leonardo and Rheinmetall recently established the joint venture, named Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV), structured as a 50:50 partnership. The venture, headquartered in Rome with additional operations in La Spezia, aims to create a major European production hub for next-generation military vehicles. A primary focus of LRMV will be producing the Italian Army’s main battle tank (MBT) and the Lynx Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS), both of which are central to Italy’s strategic armoured vehicle programs. Official approval and full operations for LRMV are anticipated by early 2025.
Under this agreement, IDV’s role in the LRMV joint venture is expected to comprise approximately 12 to 15% of total project activities. IDV brings specialised competencies in military-grade propulsion, drivetrain systems, and advanced vehicle protection technology. Its involvement will ensure that a substantial portion of critical components for these projects will be sourced from Italy, supporting local industry and workforce expertise within the Italian defence sector.
The LRMV collaboration underscores a growing trend toward European self-reliance in defence manufacturing, responding to increased demand for secure and efficient supply chains. The joint venture’s design approach will focus on modularity, allowing the production of multiple vehicle configurations such as anti-aircraft, reconnaissance, and anti-tank variants to meet the diverse operational needs of the Italian Army and other potential international customers.
