Italian Navy orders amphibious armoured personnel carriers
The VBA is based on the SuperAV 8x8 design already selected by the USMC. (Photo: IDV)
IDV is to supply 36 8x8 Amphibious Armoured Vehicle personnel carriers to the Italian Navy's San Marco Naval Brigade.
On 22 December, Italy's Directorate of Land Armaments signed a contract with IDV for 36 Amphibious Armoured Vehicles (VBAs). This is part of a wider programme to renew and expand Italy's national armoured vehicle fleets, here aimed at increasing the sea projection capability of the navy.
The VBA 8x8 vehicle can be launched and recovered from an amphibious vessel in open ocean and is designed for high mobility and ballistic protection on land.
It is powered by a 700hp FPT Cursor 16 engine, coupled to an automatic seven-speed gearbox and driveline derived from that of the Centauro and VBM Freccia. The VBA has a maximum road speed of 105km/h, while two rear-mounted hydraulic propellers allow navigation 'beyond Sea State 3' and a top water speed of 6kt.
Related Articles
Fincantieri launches Italian Navy LHD
BAE Systems to expand ACV family with recovery variant
FNSS pushes ZAHA for Indonesian AAV requirement
The platform is equipped with a Leonardo HITROLE Light remote turret, with a 12.7mm machine gun.
The VBA design for the Italian Navy is based on the SuperAV 8x8 amphibious platform selected for the US Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) programme, provided in partnership with BAE Systems.
The vehicles will replace ageing in-service AAV7-A1 platforms. Shephard Defence Insight reports that the Italian Navy has an overall requirement for 64 VBAs and that trials with the current batch will inform future procurement, including of non-APC variants.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks]()
Italy signs $784 million deal for tactical and logistic trucks
The contract is for the supply of a variety of military logistic platforms equipped with tactical cabins and based on the new range of IDV SMR6 trucks (Standard Military Range), which includes 4×4, 8×8 and 10x10 variants.
-
![Poland declares capability for Wisła medium-range air defence system]()
Poland declares capability for Wisła medium-range air defence system
Poland has been investing heavily in new defence equipment, including billions-of-dollars in air defence systems such as Narew and Wisła to provide multi-tier coverage, as well as in C2 systems such as IBCS.
-
![US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar]()
US sanctions fail to rattle India as it looks to Russian long-range radar
India has been navigating a strategic balancing act in its defence modernisation efforts as it considers deals with Russia and the US.
-
![Land Warfare Preview 2025: Questions remain in a time of change]()
Land Warfare Preview 2025: Questions remain in a time of change
The land war in Ukraine has dominated the posture, spending and actions of Russia and NATO countries for two years. With a new US Government committed to ending the conflict early in 2025, there are implications on all three of those fronts.
-
![Rheinmetall contracted by Ukraine to deliver Marder IFVs and propellant charge modules]()
Rheinmetall contracted by Ukraine to deliver Marder IFVs and propellant charge modules
The German manufacturer signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ukraine to expand their strategic cooperation which will include post-war rebuilding.
