The Land Armament Directorate (TERRARM) of the National Armament Directorate (DNA) has released the contract concerning the purchase of Assault Amphibous Vehicle (AAV) platforms in a Command configuration, in addition to a number of vehicles in a Rescue and Recovery configuration.
This acquisition arises from the need to revitalize the National Projection from the Sea capability (CNPM), in order to retain the command and control capacity of the Pozzuolo del Friuli Brigade Command.
The vehicles in a Rescue and Recovery configuration will be allocated to the Serenissima Lagunari Rgt.
With this purpose, this need for number maintenance aims to progressively replace the platforms currently in service, nearing their technical end of life.
Hence, TERRARM will proceed to purchase three AAV RAM/RS Command Variant (AAVC7A1) RAM/RS, four AAV RAM/RS Recovery Variant (AAVR7A1) RAM/RS, and two Camouflage Netting Kits in green color.
The aforementioned vehicles are available for procurement through the FMS Case from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) refurbished in the Return to Condition Code Alpha (RCCA) conditions following their dismissal.
The RCCA condition means that these vehicles will be fully restored and put back in optimal condition.
The acquisition will, therefore, occur through the subscription of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) that is configured as a negotiation agreement between government parties (GOV to GOV).
The purchase program will span from 2026 to 2028 and involves a total financial commitment of 30 million euros.
The purchase is likely necessary to replace the AAVC7A1 and AAVR7A1 nearing their end of technical life and because the Italian Army has initiated the initial purchase of Amphibious Armored Vehicles based on the SuperAV 8×8/ACV in a troop transport version, while the other versions including the Command and Communication (C2), Combat, and the Rescue and Recovery ones are still being defined.
In Italy, there are about thirty AAV7P transport units with AAV7C command and AAV7R rescue in service with the Marina San Marco Brigade of the Navy and the Serenissima Lagunari Regiment which is part of the Pozzuolo del Friuli Cavalry Brigade of the Italian Army.
The Italian Army’s VBA 8×8 Program
Following the Navy, the Italian Army has also initiated a program to procure 83 Amphibious Armored Vehicles (VBA) to replace the AAV-7P transport vehicles, which were put into service fifty years ago as LVTP-7, subsequently upgraded to the AAV-7 standard in the early 2000s, and supplemented by new units assembled by BAE Systems.
The Italian Army’s VBAs will be equipped with combat systems characterized by maximum commonality with the most recently introduced FA systems and those of other organizations, including the 8×8 VBA in service at the Marina San Marco Brigade.
It should be noted that BAE Systems, with IDV providing the vehicle frame, is already producing the C2 and Combat versions of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) for the USMC, obviously with unique leatherneck equipment, while development is underway for the Recovery version.
Source: Land Armament Directorate/National Armament Directorate
Photo credit: Italian Army
