Italy has begun a major armoured-vehicle modernization programme worth €5.14 billion ($5.84 billion), covering a new main battle tank and associated tracked combat vehicles. The effort is being developed by Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles, the joint venture formed by Leonardo and Rheinmetall in 2024 with equal ownership. Under the programme, LRMV is developing an Italian configuration based on the Panther KF51 tank and a Lynx-based Army Armoured Combat System. The Panther-derived tank is expected to replace the Ariete, while the A2CS will replace the Dardo IFV and support multiple battlefield configurations. According to Italian media reports, about 60 percent of the industrial work is expected to take place domestically. The broader plan covers 272 main battle tanks and around 1,050 tracked infantry combat vehicles, with an overall estimated value of €23.2 billion ($26 billion) extending to 2040. The Panther is a 10-meter (33-foot) tank equipped with adaptable armour protection and a 130mm smoothbore main weapon. It can also employ 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine guns together with loitering munitions. Its 1,100-horsepower engine gives it a top speed of 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour and an approximate operational range of 500 kilometers (311 miles). The Lynx measures 8 meters (26 feet) and can be configured with 30mm or 35mm automatic cannons, light machine guns, smoke launchers, aerial drone launchers and anti-tank guided missiles. Its diesel engine produces as much as 1,100 horsepower, with performance in terms of speed and range broadly matching the Panther.
