Leonardo–Rheinmetall To Supply Combat Vehicles to Italian Army

Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, and Roberto Cingolani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo | Photo: Leonardo

The Leonardo–Rheinmetall Military Vehicles Joint Venture (LRMV), jointly owned by Leonardo and Rheinmetall AG, has secured its first supply contract for 21 A2CS combat vehicles for the Italian Army. The contract marks the first order since the joint venture’s establishment and represents a key milestone in European defence industrial cooperation. The first vehicle delivery is scheduled by the end of 2025.

The temporary grouping of companies, formed as part of the Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles Joint Venture, will deliver a mix of 5 Rheinmetall Lynx KF-41 vehicles equipped with the Lance turret and 16 newly configured variants using the same chassis but fitted with Leonardo’s Hitfist 30mm turret. The contract also provides for upgrading the initial fleet to the Hitfist configuration, with an option for 30 additional vehicles, along with training and simulation systems to support crew preparation.

David Hoeder, Executive Chairman of the Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles JV, said the order was “an important milestone” that strengthens ties between Italy and Germany, adding that “cooperation is not optional anymore – it is the very essence of our European strategic sovereignty.”

Laurent Sissmann, CEO of the joint venture, described the contract as “the first step of industrial synergy” between the two companies, emphasising their joint goal to deliver advanced armoured vehicles capable of operating across modern battlefields.

The supply is part of the Italian Army’s A2CS – Army Armoured Combat System program, which plans for a total acquisition of 1,050 armoured combat vehicles to replace its current heavy vehicle fleet. The joint venture, headquartered in Rome with operational facilities in La Spezia, will manage development, production, and marketing of the new Main Battle Tank and A2CS platforms, with 60% of production and integration activities based in Italy.