Italy to buy up to 380 new tanks and over 1,000 infantry fighting vehicles

By Defence Industry Europe

At the International Armoured Vehicles 2025 conference in Farnborough, new details emerged about Italy's ambitious plans to modernise its armoured forces. The Italian Ministry of Defence confirmed its intention to purchase up to 380 new tanks and more than 1,000 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) as part of two major procurement programmes.

 

The first programme aims to replace the ageing C1 and C2 Ariete tanks with a fleet based on the KF51 Panther. These tanks will undergo significant modifications to meet Italian operational requirements, in a process referred to as “Italianisation.” The programme will also include support vehicles built on the KF51 platform. Although the exact budget for this initiative remains undisclosed, it is expected to exceed €10 billion.

The second programme, which focuses on acquiring approximately 1,050 IFVs, has been outlined in greater detail. These vehicles will be based on the KF41 Lynx and developed in 16 different variants. The configurations include infantry fighting vehicles, command vehicles, self-propelled mortars (both 120mm and 81mm), an anti-tank missile carrier, artillery reconnaissance, and engineering support vehicles.

 

 

Additional variants are planned to address battlefield-specific needs. These include artillery command vehicles, air defence systems, and reconnaissance vehicles tailored for cavalry, infantry, and fire support roles. The programme will also feature medical evacuation vehicles, resupply units, and technical recovery vehicles. The total cost of the IFV programme is estimated at €16 billion.

Combined, the two programmes represent a significant investment in Italy’s defence capabilities, with an overall projected cost exceeding €30 billion during the acquisition phase.

 

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