Leonardo and Rheinmetall Unite: A New Era in Armoured Vehicle Supply for Italy’s Armed Forces
The collaborative alliance of firms Leonardo and Rheinmetall, as part of the Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles Joint Venture (50% Leonardo and 50% Rheinmetall AG), has been granted the inaugural supply contract for 21 “A2CS Combat” vehicles for the Italian Armed Forces. The arrival of the first unit is anticipated by the conclusion of 2025.
David Hoeder, Executive Chairman of JV Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles, remarked: “This initial joint procurement following the consensus to create a partnership between Rheinmetall and Leonardo marks a significant turning point. It connects the two enterprises, along with two of Europe’s most substantial nations, even further. Collaboration has become imperative – it is the core of our European strategic sovereignty.”
Laurent Sissmann, CEO of JV Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles, expressed: “We are delighted to declare this initial phase of industrial synergy between Leonardo and Rheinmetall. We will collaborate closely to deliver advanced armoured vehicles, designed to operate in contemporary operational environments.”
Leonardo and Rheinmetall will provide 21 tracked armoured vehicles for the Italian Armed Forces, 5 of which will be Rheinmetall’s Lynx KF-41 equipped with the Lance turret, followed by 16 newly configured units featuring the same chassis and Leonardo’s Hitfist 30mm turret. The contract also encompasses the upgrade of the entire fleet to this configuration, along with the inclusion of an additional 30 optional vehicles, plus training and simulation systems to enhance crew training. These vehicles represent the latest generation, fully digitalized systems leveraging the finest technologies available on the market, and are capable of executing missions interoperably in a multi-domain operational context.
This supply aligns with the A2CS – Army Armoured Combat System program, initially referred to as AICS – Armoured Infantry Combat System, which entails the comprehensive acquisition of 1,050 armoured combat vehicles. This initiative, along with the Main Battle Tank program, aims to rejuvenate the heavy vehicle fleet of the Italian Armed Forces.
