Iveco Defense, 64 Armored Amphibious Vehicles are arriving for the Navy
The article by Aurelio Giansiracusa for AresDifesa on the program relating to the acquisition of 64 armored amphibious vehicles for the Italian Navy
The multi-year program relates to the acquisition of Amphibious Armored Vehicles (VBA) to be assigned to the Navy Departments and will include the relative ten-year logistical technical support.
In relation to the characteristics of the system in question, the Defense Staff indicates that it is a new protected amphibious combat vehicle, of national design, capable of being projected autonomously by the Navy's Amphibious Naval Units to the ground and continue in depth the maneuver.
In this regard, the Defense points out that currently the Landing Force is not equipped "with a platform capable of being projected from the sea from distances greater than the optical horizon and guaranteeing, once on land, the continuation of the maneuver in depth, ensuring the at the same time a high degree of protection for the transported personnel ".
The Defense Staff underlines, in particular, the wide spectrum of operations that the new vehicle will be able to perform, with particular reference to the capabilities of assault and amphibious raid, of support to Special Forces, of humanitarian assistance, of evacuation of civilians and cooperation on security and deterrence. In relation to these tasks, the new system is characterized by a greater ability to overcome obstacles than the current AAV7 tracked vehicles supplied.
The new VBA will also be equipped with adequate ballistic and anti-mine protection and weaponry "capable of guaranteeing a superior engagement capacity in high intensity scenarios".
Among the technical requirements of the vehicle, it is also highlighted both the considerable autonomy of the vehicle, able to guarantee the continuation of the maneuver in depth, and the integration, in a single platform, of the main functions and technical / tactical skills to today insured only by the combination of several types of vehicles in service (VTLM and AAV7).
With reference to logistical support, the platforms will be accompanied by adequate maintenance plans resulting from logistical engineering studies and such as to guarantee high levels of operational availability. For the entire duration of the technical life, the private industry will ensure the availability of spare parts and any technical updates for the resolution of obsolescence and for the execution of all maintenance interventions over time.
The program in question also provides for the carrying out of training courses by private industry aimed at training teams of "military instructors" that will allow the FA to develop its own training and personnel training process. In this regard, the training of qualified driving "instructors", instructors of the platform operating personnel, maintenance technicians and operators / maintenance personnel for the management of all the systems and sub-systems that will equip the vehicle will be privileged.
The program, expected to start in 2021 by now 2022, is expected to end in 2034.
The overall forecast cost of the program is estimated at 326 million euros, aimed at the acquisition of 34 VBAs and related ten-year technical-logistic support. This expense is financed, limited to 206 million euros, from the allocations deriving from the distribution of the investment fund pursuant to art. 1, co. 14 of the law n. 160 of 2019 (chapter 7120, pg 42) and for the remaining 120 million euros on the chapters required by the investment sector from the Ordinary Budget of the Ministry of Defense within the scope of the resources available under current legislation (chapter 7120-03).
As regards the completion of the program, it should be noted that the remaining total estimated value of 274 million euros, necessary for the acquisition of an additional 30 vehicles and related logistical support, "will be achieved through subsequent measures that may be contracted subject to any refinancing of the intervention ".
As regards the industrial profiles, the new platform is the result of a national design (Iveco Defense Vehicles ) and, therefore, the entire production chain – in all its components including the platform / hull, the interior fittings and the armament of edge – can be developed in Italy.
Article published on aresdifesa.it
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/iveco-defence-per-la-marina-in-arrivo-64-veicoli-anfibi-blindati/ on Sun, 23 Jan 2022 15:09:03 +0000.