The Italian Ministry of Defense announced on May 28 that it had authorized the production contract to the IVECO-OTO-Melara consortium for the second batch of 40 Centauro II-wheeled tire destroyers, with an additional 56 options.
The contract includes options, a comprehensive ten-year support package, related equipment and extended warranties, the contract is worth 1,159 million euros excluding value-added tax. This project will be jointly funded by the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The vehicle will be delivered in standard 3.0, which will operate in the new Medium Brigade which is digitalized by the Italian Army, along with infantry-wheeled Freccia wheeled combat vehicles.
Details of the vehicle's ability are kept secret, but according to an explanatory memo issued May 28 by the Italian National Armament Director, the overall goal is to deploy a number of adequate armored vehicles, which are able to combine the characteristics of mobility, protection, firepower, speed, versatility and interoperability with VBM Freccia , which is the main vehicle for combat regiments stationed in operational theaters with moderate to high threat levels, including Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
According to Italian media, changes in version 3.0 mainly consisted of improvements to the fire control system that allowed the use of programmable ammunition, improved observation and sighting systems, and improved electrical systems.
The Centauro B1 version currently in service cannot match the ability of Freccia.
Some 100 vehicles, which will complement the needs of the Italian Army, are awaiting ministerial approval, the memo added.
An early version of the Centauro B1 tank destroyer had been operating in the Italian Army since 1991; the vehicle was armed with the main weapons of the 105mm cannon and was in service at 8 Italian armored cavalry regiments.
The Centauro 2 contract follows orders for 30 Freccia 8 × 8 armored fighting vehicles given to the Iveco-Oto-Melara consortium on December 27 last year, and is intended for the Italian Army's second medium brigade.
Italy spends around € 1.5 billion on the Freccia program until 2032, and plans to buy 381 additional vehicles in the EVO (Evolved) version that are upgraded and delivered in several configurations, including combat vehicles, anti-tanks, command posts etc.
CREDIT & RESPECT TO THE FOLLOWING SOURCE : defense-aerospace.com
Editing : UPDATE_DEFENSE
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