Italian Army - Esercito Italiano EI - Modernization
The outbreak of a conventional war a few hundreds of kilometers from Italy's borders brought to public attention the renewed need to ensure credible, effective terrestrial instrument, ready and, if necessary, able to fight in ever-changing environments. The systemic shock caused by the dramatic evolution of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, will radically change the world and European security order. The key component for the development of the maneuver in contact is the armored forces which, to date, represent one criticality in the Army capability panorama.
For this reason, also in the light of the fact that "to win the wars of future it is necessary to win today's first”, the short-term effort of the Army will turn to extend the operational life of the platforms existing ones, especially the “Ariete”. This planning will allow the restoration of the efficiency of the legacy component, improving its performance in the field of mobility, those of acquisition and engagement of objectives and the communication skills. The obsolescence and ageing of main platforms and the descending critical issues are surely some of the principle factors shaping the process of modernisation and renewal.
The Government forwarded to the Chambers the request for a parliamentary opinion on the draft ministerial decree approving the multi-year A/R program no. SMD 27/2022, relating to the renewal of the «family of weapon systems of the heavy component» (Armored Infantry Combat System or AICS) of the Italian Army. For significant capacitive increases, it will be necessary to wait for the acquisition of the new armored infantry fighting vehicles (AICS) and new tanks (MBT).
These programs must have a European scope – to consolidate the national defense industry in the continent too with economies of scale – and possessing high potential of growth in order to be able to integrate emerging technologies of the future such as additional items. Furthermore, it will be important to maintain commonality logistics with the other platforms of the Armed Forces and head to an industrial partner whose main business is in the terrestrial sector,
The BLINDO CENTAURO 2 prototype has already been produced and it was presented in October 2016. This platform to replace the current version (although with a substantial reduction in numbers, decreasing from 400 to 150), now obsolete and unable to operate in highthreat environments.
The Army is promoting an initiative to create consensus around an European/multilateral project to develop a Main Battle Tank to be brought into service post 2030. The objective is the creation of a new generation of Main Battle Tank to be employed in its classic role of heavy component, (in open spaces against similarly equipped opposing forces) but also in scenarios considered more likely to happen by analysts, such as urban warfare in megacities and hybrid warfare.
After 2035, the Italian army intends to introduce new generation tanks. Italy has long sought to enter the Franco-German MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) tank program. The MGCS tank will enter service around 2040. But the MGCS program is in trouble , mainly due to the inability to reconcile the interests of German and French industry. Italian industry understandably also expects a maximum share in the development and production of MGCS (naturally at the expense of German and French industry). In any case, Italy has still not joined the MGCS program, and the media is therefore speculating about the possibility of Italy's involvement in the development of the Polish or now Polish-Korean, new generation tank K2PL and later K3.
Considering this ambitious objective (not just for the capability innovation it will represent but also for the implications of sharing the project with other European nations) the Army is studying various options to ensure the country has a credible armoured force through the provision of a new MBT. A possible solution is to maintain part of the current fleet of Ariete MBTs in service, through a program of maintenance and upgrades to preserve their operational effectiveness and adapt their safety features to the new requirements of the Theaters of employment.
VBM FRECCIA 8X8 represented the platform of reference for medium forces, capable of operating in a digitalised environment, with very high level of protection. Approximately half of the ordered vehicles was delivered and interruptions to the program prior to its conclusion will have serious repercussions in terms of overall cost and the possibility of exporting the platform.
The program in question relates to the renewal of the combat capability of heavy infantry, through the acquisition of a family of Armored Infantry Combat System (AICS - Combat System for Armored Infantry) platforms, hinged on a combat platform (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle or Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and a number of support platforms.
In the short/mid-term, as a first step the Army will modernise as much as possible legacy systems. The second step of the programme will include the acquisition of over 1,000 armoured vehicles of different types, its cost being evaluated at over 20 billion Euro. This programme will come to fruition from 2035 on and will include new MBTs, the main part of it being however centred on a new modular tracked platform, dubbed AICS (Armoured Infantry Combat System).
The acquisition program of 570 AICS platforms will make it possible to equip two Brigades (one armored and one heavy), general support units and training/training bodies with highly integrated new generation systems and in the future foresees the possibility of equipping an additional heavy Brigade.
The AICS program is configured with the Centauro II and VBM programs, which it supports temporally and operationally, in relation to the on-board weapon systems , the C5ISTAR devices (Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance) and automotive components.
For Defence, the program is part of a broader project aimed at renewing the entire combat capability of the heavy forces through the acquisition of families of platforms (system of systems) characterized by modular design, high technological innovation and full interoperability according to NATO requirements and standards.
This family of platforms is centered around an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) and a series of support versions (command post, anti-tank, mortar carrier, sapper engineer, scout, anti-aircraft, casualty carrier, ammunition carrier and driving school). The acquisition of the new generation combat capability in the context of the program in question will involve for the Army " a significant generational leap compared to the combat power expressible by the current Dardo lines and M113 derivatives, allowing the introduction into service of a system of combat to be used in all operational contexts, including those with a high digitization index and with high levels of threat ".
The modernisation plan includes some elements that will develop in the long term.
- A new tracked vehicle for Armoured infantry. This is also the object of a PESCO project but alternative solutions (including collaboration with other countries) are being studied;
- All Terrain Vehicle, following a multi-year acquisition plan;
- Armoured amphibious vehicle, developed with the Navy, that will equip the Lagunari Regiment and, in a wider sense, the future Joint Amphibious Brigade
The platforms will feature next-generation solutions, technologically mature and based on a system design suitable to guarantee a continuous growth potential, as well as to favor Battlespace Management with other platforms, as well as integration / interoperability / interconnection of command devices and check.
They will make it possible to effectively contribute to the achievement of multi-domain effects and to the success in land operations conducted in the main operational environments foreseeable today.
In this perspective, the AICS program will have to ensure configuration commonality with the Centauro II and VBM programs, which it supports temporally and operationally, with regard to on-board weapon systems, the C5ISTAR devices (Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Cyber , Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Reconnaissance) and automotive components.
Some European industrial consortia have launched development programs in the specific segment, aimed at creating families of new generation combat platforms for heavy forces. Therefore, the Italian Defense intends to pursue solutions which, in addition to satisfying the capability requirement, maximize returns at an industrial, occupational level and in terms of growth of national technological know-how.
The development of this planning in a multinational context, based on alliances between solid European companies that already collaborate with Italian companies, will create, starting from the implementation of the AICS program, advantageous opportunities for the expansion of the Italian partnership within the Main program European Battle Tank (the creation of which is consequential and closely related to AICS), a capability that the Army needs to acquire starting from 2035. The project will promote potential development opportunities in Europe, also with a view to identifying partnerships functional to the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS).
The new generation weapon platforms and systems must be equipped with active protection systems, with contrast capabilities of threats deriving from aerial drones (C-UAS) 3 and from rockets, artillery strikes and mortar (C/RAM), being cyber-native, connected to the network in such a way that is safe and secure and will need to make use of complementary automated swarms/robotic systems (RAS) that "orbit" around the main platform to perform the functions of exploration, escort, sensor and alarm.
The new context outlines a further important challenge as sensors and actuators, predominantly those oriented against the threats from the third dimension, will be ineffective if not integrated into a single system, which involves semi-permanent and mobile structures. The Army urgently needs to approach the issue by creating a continuum between the different anti-aircraft defense systems:
- medium-range ones (MRSAM), used against conducted attacks primarily at medium altitudes, i.e. targets at distances included between 15 and 50 km and which carry out an effective action up to an altitude of 15,000m;
- short range (SHORAD), effective up to about 3,000m above sea level and with a useful range between 5 and 15km;
- very short range (VSHORAD), effective up to about 1,500m above sea level and with a range of about 5km.
In the medium range sector, the Army will implement a plan of capacitive increase aimed at making the SAMP-T batteries and to start a research and development program for countering the hypersonic threat. For the short-range segment, the Forza Armata will continue the acquisitions of the "Grifo" system, the national system of missile defense, developed by the MBDA Italia company in collaboration with MBDA UK.
NEW RECONNAISSANCE AND ESCORT HELICOPTER [NEES] development of a prototype began in 2017 and its introduction in line will happen gradually and simultaneously to the gradual decommissioning of its predecessor, the “Mangusta”. This project will confirm the important contribution of national industry in the attack helicopter sector (“Mangusta” was infact the first Combat helicopter produced in Europe).
LIGHT UTILITY HELICOPTER [LUH] will have to replace the multirole helicopters currently in service (five different types), which are now obsolete. In the long term this will deliver consistent savings in fleet management costs thanks to the reduction to only one platform and a decrease of the numbers of aircrafts. This helicopters, derived from a commercial platform, will have strong dual characteristics, meaning it will also be suitable for natural disaster and emergencies without having to always resort to the NH-90, which has greater operating costs.
The AICS program is conceived according to a multi-year development plan which should start from 2024 and last thirteen years ( 2024-2036 ). The project for the complete renewal of the entire combat capability of the heavy forces through the acquisition of families of platforms in favor of combat units, support units and training/training bodies has an estimated cost of approximately €16,200 million.
The AICS program is part of this larger project and has an overall cost estimated at €6,050 million, referring to the acquisition of 570 AICS platforms (corresponding to the budget envisaged for two Brigades, one heavy and one armored ), the relative logistical support, training courses, vehicles dedicated to transport and the necessary infrastructural adjustments.
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