IAV 2023: Italy to procure VBA amphibious vehicles for army at end of decade

Italy's Directorate of Land Armaments signed a contract with IDV on 22 December 2022 for 36 VBA amphibious armoured vehicles for the Italian Navy. (IDV)

Italy will procure Veicoli Blindati Anfibi (VBA) 8×8 amphibious armoured vehicles for the Italian Army at the end of the decade, Janes learnt at Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference, which was held in London from 23 to 26 January.

Italy's Directorate of Land Armaments signed a contract with Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) on 22 December 2022 for 36 VBA amphibious armoured vehicles for the Italian Navy's San Marco naval infantry brigade. The VBA contract for the Italian Navy is part of an effort by Italy to replace the service's amphibious vehicles with the aim of improving its sea projection capabilities.

An Italian Army official told Janes on 25 January that his service would procure the VBA in 2028 as an amphibious enabler, with more variants than the Italian Navy's combat vehicle version. The Italian Army's AAV7s that the VBA will replace exist in reconnaissance, command and information, recovery, as well as infantry vehicle variants, according to Janes World Armies.

The VBA can be launched from and recovered by amphibious assault ships in open waters. Its 750 hp FPT Cursor 16 engine with an automatic seven-speed gearbox produces a maximum road speed of 105 km/h, and two hydraulic propellers a speed of up to 6 kt in sea state 3. The VBA is equipped with a Leonardo Hitrole Light remotely operated weapon station armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun. The VBA also has new-generation command, control, communications, and computers (C4) systems, as well as featuring ballistic, anti-mine, and anti-improvised explosive device protection.