The Italian Army’s heavy armor renewal has moved forward on two fronts in October 2026. The 50:50 joint venture Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV) has been awarded the first production contract for the new I-MBT (Italian – Main Battle Tank), while in parallel the Italian MoD has exercised the option for 30 additional LYNX KF-41 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) embedded in the earlier A2CS (Army Armored Combat System) contract.
Established in October 2024 by Leonardo and Rheinmetall with registered office in Rome and operational headquarters in La Spezia, LRMV is responsible for the industrial development and marketing of the new I-MBT — based on Rheinmetall’s PANTHER KF51 but reworked to specific Italian Army requirements, with a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore main gun and extensive Leonardo-sourced electronics — and of the Army Armoured Combat System (A2CS) family, built on the Rheinmetall’s LYNX KF-41 platform but with the integration of Italian systems and technologies. The 2 programs will replace the aging C1 ARIETE MBT and DARDO IFV fleets, respectively.
According to FW Mag sources, the first I-MBT production contract was signed in early October. It is worth €3.4 billion, with options for a further €850 million, and covers 48 tracked armored platforms — 26 of which in the combat configuration, and the others in support configuration (recovery, brigde, etc.). This is the first production tranche under a multi-year program envisaging a total of 132 MBTs and 140 derivative platforms. First deliveries are expected between 2029 and 2030.
On the A2CS side, the option for 30 additional LYNX KF-41 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) in the A2CS Combat UOR (Urgent Operational Requirement) configuration has been exercised. The option was embedded in the first A2CS contract signed in November 2025, which covered 21 vehicles and already contemplated an additional 30 optional units plus the upgrade of the entire fleet to the Leonardo turret standard. The exercise brings the total to 51 units.
The Combat UOR configuration combines the LYNX KF-41 hull by Rheinmetall with the two-man HITFIST 30 Plus/X-GUN turret — also designated HITFIST 30 NG — by Leonardo, the same configuration specified for the 16 vehicles of the initial batch. The first 5 units, delivered in January 2026 in the Hungarian “as-it-is” configuration (with Rheinmetall’s LANCE turret), will also be retrofitted with the Leonardo turret.
The A2CS program includes the planned acquisition of up to 1,050 vehicles across 16 variants, alongside the MBTs and their derivatives.
(Pictured: the LYNX - left - and I-MBT - right - presented at Eurosatory 2026)
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