Leonardo-Rheinmetall, tank agreement ready
Advanced negotiations for an alliance on new weapons for the Italian Army. Towards orders worth 20 billion over 10 years for 280 tanks and 1,000 lighter tracked vehicles
3' min read
3' min read
Leonardo is in very advanced talks with the German Rheinmetall group to form an alliance in land armaments.
The pivot of the agreement under discussion is the establishment of a joint German-Italian joint venture to manage future contracts for the production of new heavy tanks (Mbt) and new armoured infantry vehicles (Aifv) for the Italian Army, which needs to renew the ageing fleet of Ariete and Dardo. This is an industrial collaboration, the JV would not have any industrial plants, but would manage the contracts with Defence, so the work would be transferred to the companies.
Future orders
.The planned expenditure for future orders, no orders have yet been awarded, is estimated to be in the order of EUR 20 billion over more than ten years to produce 280 tanks (half combat version and half support vehicles) and more than a thousand lighter tracked vehicles (Aifv). According to authoritative sources, a preliminary agreement should be signed tomorrow between the two groups, a Memorandum of Understanding. Leonardo, when questioned, did not comment.
Rheinmetall has more advanced products than the former Finmeccanica. The Germans are developing the Panther tank and in armoured tracked vehicles they have already produced the Lynx, purchased from Hungary.
Vehicles 'Italianised'
.In order to obtain the rich Italian order, Rheinmetall would agree to let Leonardo participate significantly in the production of these 'Italianised' vehicles, especially for the electronics and tank turrets, so there would be work for Italian industry.
