Italy plans to purchase over 1400 armoured vehicles from Rheinmetall

The Italian Ministry of Defence has expanded its plans to purchase armoured vehicles: the country plans to buy more than 1,400 armoured vehicles from the German company Rheinmetall.

Here's What We Know

The updated programme envisages the purchase of 380 tanks instead of the original 138 units. Italy also plans to purchase 1,050 Lynx armoured vehicles under the A2CS programme, of which 649 units will be in the form of an infantry fighting vehicle to replace the Dardo.

The purchased vehicles will be subject to an "Italianisation" process, meaning that they will be manufactured in Italy and equipped with components from Italian defence companies.

The total value of the contract is expected to exceed €30 billion, of which more than €10 billion will be spent on the purchase of tracked transporters and vehicles based on them, and the rest on new tanks.

The Italian Army has already received the first KF41 infantry fighting vehicle from Rheinmetall for comprehensive testing.

Earlier, the Italian Ministry of Defence planned to purchase 132 Leopard 2A8 tanks from KNDS, but negotiations were suspended because the manufacturer did not support Italian plans to localise production.

Source: Defence Industry Europe