Italian Navy orders 36 amphibious armoured vehicles

The Italian Navy has ordered 36 amphibious armoured vehicles VBA from Iveco Defense Vehicles (IDV) Group for the San Marco Marine Brigade.

These vehicles are to reinforce the Italian Navy's San Marco Marina Brigade (BMSM) to increase its maritime projection capability, according to Naval News.

Italy’s Directorate of Land Armaments signed the purchase contract with IDV on December 22, 2022. The contract comes as part of the programme to renew and extend the vehicles’ fleet for National Defence, aimed at increasing the Sea Projection National Capability of the Italian Navy.

The VBA is an 8×8 all-terrain vehicle, capable of being launched and recovered from an amphibious vessel in the open ocean and offering at the same time excellent mobility and high-level ballistic, anti-mine and anti-IED protection.

The 700HP FPT Cursor 16 engine, combined with an automatic 7-speed gearbox and an H-driveline, derived from the Centauro and the VBM Freccia, provides the VBA with a maximum on-road speed of 105 km/h, while the two rear-mounted hydraulic propellers guarantee the navigation beyond “Sea State 3” and a top speed of 6 knots.

The platform is equipped with a HITROLE Light remote turret, supplied by Leonardo, with a 12.7mm calibre weapon and latest generation C4 systems.

The VBA for the Italian Navy is based on the SUPERAV 8×8, the amphibious vehicle platform used for the US Marine Corps’ ACV (Amphibious Combat Vehicle), which is provided in partnership with BAE Systems.