A New Reconnaissance Car for the Italian Army

The National Armaments Directorate recently published a “Determination To Contract” (DAC) related to the acquisition of a new Reconnaissance Car. The current geostrategic context has highlighted the indispensable need for the ground military instrument to equip itself with tactical vehicles capable of carrying out reconnaissance activities under all scenarios and environmental contexts. These vehicles will have an extremely high “all-terrain” mobility and a degree of protection for a quota of them, balancing necessity and overall system agility to increase survival capability for personnel even in high-intensity contexts and scenarios.

The Army General Staff (SME) requests the acquisition of 372 New Reconnaissance Cars (Nu.AR.) in “base” configuration (Mark 1), “standard” Nu.AR. with military CIS devices (Mark 2) and 50 “protected” Nu.AR. (Mark 3), along with 660 complete DMR radio devices and 66 portable satellite antennas, including charges for development, support and “a body” assistance for military certification, Integrated Logistic Support and training courses.

In the Mark 1 version, a vehicular radio station for DMR standard LMR communications is foreseen, while for the Mark 2 and 3 versions, communications will be possible under various operational scenarios using radio stations and CIS military devices. These will allow VHF and UHF band tactical communications, satellite communications with stationary vehicle and portable antenna, and mission-critical DMR-standard communications with position data sending capability within the usage network.

All versions must ensure the transport of a fully equipped reconnaissance unit, guaranteeing adequate comfort for long routes on road surfaces (hard surface) and during off-road (soft surface) movement, and activities interspersed with using the vehicle for reconnaissance, linking units, territory control, support to training activities, contribution to Public Security Authorities in case of Public Order or Public Disasters, among others.

The reconnaissance cars must be transportable by railway, maritime or air means, inside airlifters or attached to the baricentric hook of helicopters, while always being combat-ready irrespective of the transport method.

Only in the Mark 3 version is ballistic protection planned; the platform must ensure personnel survival through state-of-the-art protection levels, made possible thanks to shields capable of contrasting a wide range of threats. The chassis of the car, including any support shapes to the seats, must be able to resist the explosion of a mod. OD/82 grenade.

An optional supply is provided that includes additional units of standard and protected vehicles, complete DMR radio devices and portable satellite antennas. According to SME, the basic supply will meet the entire operational needs while the optional supply may be activated only based on any changed operational needs connected to contingent situations. The acquisition program will run from 2025 to 2029 with a forecast amount of 141.26 million euros.

The contract will be assigned through a European restricted procedure, with application of the economically most advantageous offer award criterion. No subdivision into functional, performance, or quantitative lots is planned as marked interoperability and logistical commonality are required among all versions of the cars to be acquired.

DAC stipulates that the company that will be awarded the order must ensure the availability of spare parts for no less than 10 years from the delivery date of the aforementioned reconnaissance cars. The decennial Integrated Logistic Support (SLI) must provide upon the expiry of the 4-year warranty, the logistical capacities – in terms of training, system use, maintenance, and repair – necessary for the platform’s maintenance in the remaining technical life period.