Italy Receives First Upgraded Ariete C-2 Main Battle Tank

The Italian Army has received its first upgraded Ariete C-2 main battle tank from the Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara (CIO).

According to European Defense Review, the handover took place at the Cecchignola military training ground in Rome, with Italian Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Carmine Masiello and CIO President Claudio Catalano in attendance.

“Today’s ceremony marks an important milestone in a continuous and significant evolution,” Masiello said.

“The delivery of the Ariete C-2 tank is a symbol of innovation and cooperation between the Army and the defense industry,” he added.

The tank’s qualification process faced delays due to two key issues: the original contract lacked provisions for upgraded command and communication systems, and modifications to the tank’s wider track introduced unexpected vibration problems that required resolution.

Ariete C-2 Upgrades

The main change in the C-2 variant is the powertrain. While the tank retains its Iveco V-12 engine, enhancements such as electronic injection and a new control unit have increased power from 1,300 to 1,500 horsepower. Maximum torque also rose from 4,615 to 5,000 Nm.

The added power prompted upgrades across the drivetrain, including new gearboxes, reinforced transmissions, and an improved braking system. A new track design expanded ground contact by 3.5%, reducing surface pressure.

Armor protection remains largely unchanged. The C-2’s base weight is 55 tons, increasing to 59.5 tons with add-on armor. The Peace Support Operations (PSO) kit raises the weight to 61 tons, and with additional mine protection, it reaches 63.3 tons.

The turret’s hydraulic systems were replaced with electric drives for improved reliability and easier maintenance, though this reduced rotation speed and slightly limited the gun’s elevation range: from -9°/+20° to -7.5°/+19°.

The turret now features reinforced drives derived from the Centauro 2 wheeled tank. The Ariete C-2 also receives a new fire control system from the Centauro 2, updated optics for both commander and gunner from Leonardo, and a new ballistic computer.

The C-2 variant includes the C2N EVO command and control system. The commander operates two digital displays for fire control and battlefield management. The driver also has a digital cockpit with vehicle status, mobility metrics, and integrated navigation.

Despite the upgrades of the tank gun, the main armament remains a 120 mm L/44 smoothbore gun with a 42-round ammunition load.

Under the €848.8 million contract signed in August 2023, 90 Ariete C-1 tanks will be upgraded to the C-2 standard, with an option to modernize an additional 35 units.

The upgraded tanks are slated for deployment with the 132nd Armored Brigade “Ariete” based in Pordenone, northeastern Italy. Specifically, they will be assigned to the 32nd and 132nd Tank Regiments. Both units currently operate 41 tanks each, with plans to expand to 54 per regiment to align with NATO force structure guidelines.