LRMV will develop and produce MBTs based on the Panther (pictured at Eurosatory 2024) and AICS IFVs based on the Lynx for the Italian Army. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)
Leonardo and Rheinmetall announced on 15 October that they will establish their joint venture by the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approval. The two companies said in a joint press release they would have an equal share of 50% each in Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV), with corporate headquarters in Rome and operational headquarters in La Spezia.
In a joint press conference with Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger at the International Press Association in Rome on 15 October, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani said the 3 July memorandum of understanding to form the joint venture was his company's most important agreement since it was created.
The first goal of the joint venture is to equip the Italian Army with an Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS) based on Rheinmetall's Lynx infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and KF51 Panther main battle tank (MBT), replacing the Dardo IFV and Ariete MBT, respectively. In addition to the IFV version, 15 AICS versions are planned, including Skyranger air-defence, reconnaissance, and anti-tank vehicles, and in addition to the Panther MBT, armoured recovery vehicles, armoured engineer vehicles (AEVs), and armoured vehicle launched bridges (AVLBs) will be developed and produced.
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