Information is leaking on the contracts signed by the Italian Ministry of Defence and Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV), the joint venture formed by the Italian and Germany defence giants, for developing and delivering the new tracked infantry fighting vehicle and main battle tank, known respectively as A2CS (Army Armoured Combat System) and NMBT (New Main Battle Tank) or I-MBT (Italian MBT)
While no information was provided by the two counterparts, financial press broke the ice announcing the signature of the contract. EDR On-Line understood that the signature occurred in late September. The programme was detailed at an event in February 2025, theItalian Army aiming at receiving 132 I-MBTs, 140 specialist vehicles, recovery, bridging and engineer versions, based on the same chassis, and 1,050 A2CS in 16 different variants. The NMBT is based on Rheinmetall’s KF-51 Panther prototype tank, while the A2CS is based on the German company KF-41 Lynx, in service with the Hungarian Army. The first five Lynx in the Hungarian configuration were delivered in early 2026, the Italian configuration to be fitted with a Leonardo two-man turret armed with a Leonardo 30×173 mm X-Gun and with an IDV engine. The NMBT will also integrate Italian-made systems, a 60% national content being planned.
According to informatione the two contracts are worth Euro 3.7 billion, and represents around 16% of the value of the overall deals. Final deliveries of the I-MBT were planned in 2033, but these will apparently be moved to the right, while those of the A2CS should be maintained in 2040. According to available information the contract signed in September includes nine NMBT prototypes (probably of the four different variants), 26 I-MBTs in the combat version, and 22 specialized versions, most of them being in the recovery variant. No detailed information is available on logistic support, training systems, and infrastructure work at operational unit barracks. As for the A2CS the contract signed in September is for 30 IFVs fitted with the HITFIST turret but should not yet be fitted with the IDV engine, the latter company having unveiled its new line of propulsion units at Eurosatory 2026.
A first contract for the A2CS was signed in early November 2025, and included the five at the Hungarian standard, fitted with Rheinmetall Lance 30 mm turret and to be lately refitted with the Leonardo turret, and 16 in the Italian configuration (at least for the combat system), the contract including an option for 30 more platforms at the same standard, which is the one materialised in the current contract. This should allow forming a first mechanised infantry regiment (minus specialised versions), probably the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment part of the “Ariete” Armoured Brigade, the unit earmarked to be the first to receive the I-MBT, we understood.
EDR On-Line could not find any reliable information concerning delivery times; initial I-MBT deliveries were planned for 2027, but this may be moved to the right by one-two years, while the first major delivery of A2CS was planned for 2029, a much more credible date.
The lack of information from official sources is likely attributable to political reasons, given that general elections are scheduled in Italy for 2027 and that, in the current economic climate, many view defense spending as superfluous, failing to take into account the events unfolding just a couple of thousand kilometers from national territory.
Photos by P. Valpolini
