On July 18, 2025, the first production upgraded Ariete C2 main tank was officially handed over to the Italian army by the consortium CIO (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara) of Iveco and Leonardo companies at the Cecchignola garrison in Rome. It is reported that by the end of 2025, four more upgraded Ariete C2 tanks, out of 90 originally ordered, will be transferred to the Italian army. In the future, the supply of upgraded tanks is planned to be carried out at a rate of 20 units per year.
The first serially upgraded Ariete C2 main tank handed over to the Italian army by the CIO consortium (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara) of Iveco and Leonardo companies. Rome, 07/18/2025 (c) Iveco Defense Vehicles
On August 2, 2023, the Armament Directorate of the Italian Land Forces (Direzione Armament Terrestri - DAT, as part of the General Secretariat of Defense / National Armament Directorate of Italy) signed a contract worth 848.8 million euros with the CIO consortium for the serial modernization of 90 Ariete C1 combat tanks of the Italian army, out of 200 available, with an option to modernize another 35. The upgraded tank was designated Ariete C2. The contract is designed for eight years (from 2023 to 2030) and provides for the supply of 90 mass-produced modernized tanks from 2025 to 2029. If the option to upgrade another 35 tanks is implemented, its cost will amount to another 150 million euros.
The Ariete C1 tank was developed by the CIO consortium in the 1980s, but due to the end of the Cold War and reduced military spending, it was manufactured for the Italian army in 1995-2002 in an amount of only 200 production units. The development of a modified version of the Ariete 2 was also discontinued (the prototype was shown in 2002). Currently, the Ariete C1 is in service with three tank battalions of the Italian army (the staff of the 41 tank battalion consists of three tank companies of 13 vehicles and two tanks in control) - two battalions of the 32nd and 132nd tank regiments (the Italian regiment in peacetime includes one line battalion) of the 132nd armored brigade Ariete and one battalion of the 4th Tank Regiment of the Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade.
In August 2019, the Italian Army's Armaments Department signed a three-year contract with the CIO consortium worth 35 million euros for the development of an Ariete C1 tank modernization project under the Ariete AMV program (Aggiornamento di Mezza Vita - "mid-life modernization") and for the manufacture of three prototypes under the modernization project. Later, the Italian army demanded an expansion of the modernization project, including the installation of a new fire control system and new communications equipment, which delayed the design work. As a result, under this contract, in 2022, the prototype AMV RT1 was delivered, including improvements only to the engine compartment, chassis and hull, and the prototype AMV RT2, which, while maintaining the old chassis and hull, had only an upgraded turret and fire control system, and in early 2023 was delivered fully complete. The prototype of the AMV RT3, which already had an upgraded hull and turret. All three prototypes have undergone an intensive testing program.
A special feature of the Ariete C2 modernization project is not the complete replacement of the installed standard FIAT-Iveco 12V MTCA engine, but its factory upgrade by Iveco to the V12 AMV variant (belonging to the Vector family), with an increase in displacement from 25.8 to 30 liters due to the replacement of cylinders, pistons and crankshaft and an increase in cylinder stroke. Accordingly, the maximum engine power has been increased from 1,270 to 1,500 hp (it is considered possible to raise it to 1,600 hp in the future), and the maximum torque from 4,615 Nm at 1,600 rpm to 5,800 Nm. During the upgrade, digital control with the New Engine Monitor (NEM) electronic unit and the Bosch Common Rail injection system are installed on the engine. It is also reported that a dual turbocharger, additional webasto diesel heaters for temperatures below -25°, heated fuel filters and an aftercooler heat exchanger system have been installed.
The IVECO/ZF LSG-3000 licensed automatic transmission with a torque converter installed on the base tank is being modified with a special kit supplied by ZF. It is stated that the updated transmission allows you to triple the torque at low revs. The suspension and rollers of the tank are also being improved. A new braking system, new fuel tanks with new fuel lines and a new fire protection system are being installed. The tank is equipped with new KNDS 570FT tracks (a variant of the KNDS 844 series track for the Leopard 2 tank) with a 20% increased width.
The reservation of the Ariete C2 tank has not undergone any special changes during the modernization, with the exception of some strengthening of the frontal protection of the turret, since there are already three additional protection options for C1 combat tanks. It is reported that the basic configuration of the Ariete C2 tank without additional protection kits weighs about 55 tons (the mass of the basic Ariete C1 was 53.8 tons). The C1 tank's standard additional protection kit increases the weight of the C2 tank to 59.5 tons, the installation of an additional PSO (Peace Support Operations) side protection kit increases it to 61 tons, and the installation of an additional MPK Mine Protection Kit increases the maximum weight to 63.3 tons. Increasing the engine power to 1,500 hp will make the installation of all these kits regular and permanent. The installation of any additional protective screens and "barbecues" has so far been optimistically ignored by the Italians. There is also no active protection complex.
As for the modernization of the tower and the fire control system, these works are carried out under the head office of Leonardo Defense (formerly Oto Melara) in La Spezia. The upgraded fire control system of the Ariete C2 tank is generally similar to the system of the new Italian Centauro 2 wheeled cannon armored vehicle. The Attila-D commander's panoramic sight and the new Lotar-SD gunner's sight (both with third-generation thermal imagers), a new ballistic computer, an all-round viewing system with display output, modern digital communications equipment (including the Leonardo VQ-1 SDR radio station, Larimart intercoms, Leonardo C2N Evo automated control system terminals), a satellite navigation system are being installed. communications L3Harris AN/PRC-152A, navigation system, as well as a special radio station for communicating with infantry outside the tank. The tank commander has two displays: one for fire control, the second for displaying general information about the vehicle and tactical information from the C2N Evo automated control system, the driver also received a "digital cockpit" with displays. The electrohydraulic drives of the turret and guns are being replaced by electric ones with digital control. The WMD protection system and fire-fighting equipment are being finalized and new smoke grenade launchers are being installed. The 7.62mm MG3 machine gun on the roof of the turret is being replaced by a 12.7mm M2NV. In the future, it is planned to introduce new programmable and guided rounds into the ammunition of the stored standard 120 mm/44 cannon.
The modernization of 90 tanks should ensure the staffing of two tank battalions of the Ariete armored brigade, and the modernization of another 35 tanks should then increase the staffing of battalions (regiments) from 41 to 54 tanks by introducing a fourth tank company into them.
In parallel with the modernization of a maximum of 125 Ariete C1 tanks to the Ariete C2 level, the Italian armed Forces intend to purchase 132 tanks of new production under the i-MBT (Main Battle Tank) program, after refusing to purchase German Leopard 2A8 tanks. The i-MBT tank will be developed and produced by the joint venture LRMV, created by the Italian company Leonardo and the German Rheinmetall group in Italy, based on the recently presented Rheinmetall concept of the KF51 Panther tank. In the future, it is planned to purchase 272 i-MBT tanks by 2040, with a complete replacement of the fleet of upgraded Ariete C2 tanks. As for the purchase of 132 i-MBT tanks, these tanks are to enter service with two tank battalions (regiments) of the Ariete armored brigade (54 tanks each). The two battalion sets (54 tanks each) of upgraded Ariete C2 tanks released from the Ariete brigade are to be used to rearm the tank battalion of the 4th tank Regiment as part of the Garibaldi Bersaglieri brigade and to form a new tank battalion (regiment) as part of the Sassari mechanized brigade in Sardinia. Thus, the total number of regular tanks in the line units of the Italian army should increase from the current 123 to 216.
On July 16, 2025, Leonardo presented a promising 120-mm smoothbore tank gun with a 55-caliber barrel being developed by its Leonardo Defense division, the prototype of which has been undergoing field tests since June. It is claimed that the gun's design ensures its compatibility with both the turret of the upgraded Ariete C2 tank and the advanced i-MBT tank. The new cannon allows the use of Rheinmetall's new powerful KE2020Neo subcalibre armor-piercing shot and programmable shots. Leonardo is also developing a guided Vulcano 120 shot for the new cannon, which, as stated, will have a range of up to 30 km and the ability to target from the tank's onboard UAV.
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The first serially upgraded Ariete C2 main tank handed over to the Italian army by the CIO consortium (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara) of Iveco and Leonardo companies. Rome, 07/18/2025 (c) Iveco Defense Vehicles and CIO
The first prototype of a promising 120 mm/55 smoothbore tank cannon of increased power from the Italian company Leonardo at the Italian Navy's Cottrau training ground near La Spezia, July 2025 (c) Paolo Valpolini / www.edrmagazine.eu
