Italy Begins €5.14 Billion Procurement of NMBT Tanks

Italy’s Ministry of Defense has begun procuring new main battle tanks (NMBTs) and specialized vehicles based on their base, with a total value of €5.14 billion.

The relevant procurement procedure, identified as BD0D09994D, was published on September 21 in the database of the Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC).

The total value of the procurement is €5.14 billion, with Italy’s Ministry of Defense acting as the contracting authority. The procurement program is scheduled for completion by 2038.

The program is known as NMBT (New Main Battle Tank), under which Italy plans to modernize its heavy armored vehicle fleet. Earlier reports indicated a need for approximately 132 new tanks, along with specialized vehicles based on a related platform. In June, LRMV representatives confirmed that the NMBT is being considered as the future replacement for the C1 Ariete.

The vehicle is being developed by Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV), a joint venture established in 2024 by Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Rheinmetall.

The NMBT concept partly builds on Rheinmetall’s work under the Panther KF51 program, but Italy is developing the tank as a separate platform to meet the Italian Army’s requirements.

The demonstrator presented at Eurosatory 2026 used a Leopard 2A4 hull fitted with a new turret, but LRMV representatives said this configuration is not intended for the production version. The final platform is still under development, with the production vehicle expected to feature a new chassis with improved mobility and protection.

According to Leonardo’s official materials, the NMBT will be equipped with a 120mm smoothbore L55 gun with an autoloader holding 20 ready-to-fire rounds, with the option to later transition to a 130mm gun.

The additional armament will include a coaxial 12.7mm machine gun and a remotely controlled weapon station equipped with a 30×113mm cannon, which can also be used against drones.

The vehicle will also be able to deploy loitering munitions and control reconnaissance UAVs. The crew will consist of three service members, with space for a fourth operator.

The NMBT will have a combat weight of up to 69.5 tonnes, a maximum speed of up to 70 km/h, and a range of approximately 450 km. Its protection will combine passive armor with active security systems against anti-tank weapons and UAVs.

As of 2023, it was known that of the roughly 200 C1 Ariete tanks in Italian service, only about 50 were operational and in use. To maintain the existing fleet, Italy had previously signed a contract to upgrade the Ariete, but in the long term, the new NMBTs were expected to modernize the Italian Army’s tank component.