Versatile and effective against small arms and mines: identikit of the 'Lince', hit in tyres and bumpers by the IDF in Lebanon
The multirole light tactical vehicle, supplied to the Italian Army, is currently deployed in operational contexts such as Bulgaria, Libya, Latvia, Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia and Lebanon
Key points
It is a 'Lince', the light tactical multi-role vehicle belonging to the Italian Army, the armoured vehicle that on Wednesday 8 April was reached by warning shots from the IDF - the Israeli Defence Forces - in Lebanon, against Italian soldiers operating in the UN's Unifil mission. According to qualified sources, the vehicle was in a column with several other vehicles - Italian-led - and was on its way to refuel. The shots hit the tyres and the bumper.
Light weight
The Tactical Light Multirole Vehicle (VTLM), also known as the 'Lince', is a 'light' armoured vehicle (weighing 6.5 tonnes) produced by Iveco Defence Vehicles of Bolzano. The 'Lince' possesses a high level of protection against fire, thanks in part to the particular conformation of the 'transport cell', and its extreme versatility of use allows it to operate in radically different environments in terms of geographical location, climatic conditions (-32 C° +49 C°) and terrain characteristics. The armoured vehicle can carry five people (four with the pilot). The maximum speed is 130 km/h, it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 41 seconds and has a range of 500 km. It has an Iveco F1C diesel engine, 4 cylinders common rail.
High level of protection against small arms and mines
The Lince was produced in more than 2,000 examples for numerous defence operators, including the Italian Army and the British Army, where it is in service under the name Panther CLV. Purchased by 10 other nations, it is also in use by the Belgian and Austrian armies. Connected to the vehicle is a high level of protection against small arms fire and improvised explosive devices and mines. Additional solutions provide protection against medium-calibre weapons such as heavy machine guns.
Versatile vehicle
An important aspect of this tactical vehicle is in fact the kits: these can be assembled in a very short time and include additional modular armouring, kits designed for fording waterways, thanks to which the bodywork is raised and the engine air intakes are raised.
20 years' seniority
Introduced into service in 2006, i.e. twenty years ago, it is currently deployed in operational contexts such as Bulgaria, Libya, Latvia, Iraq, Kosovo, Somalia and, indeed, Lebanon.
