VBM Freccia Explorer IFV 8x8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle | Italian Army Italy wheeled and armoured vehicle UK | Italian army italy military equipment vehicle UK

: 19 January 2024

Centauro VBM Freccia Explorer armoured infantry fighting vehicle

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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Description

At Eurosatory 2012, the consortium of Italian Companies Iveco Defence Vehicles - Oto Melara present a new version of the 8x8 Centauro family in infantry fighting vehicle variant, the Centauro VBM Freccia Explorer. This vehicle is equipped with a Oto Melara HITFIST Plus turret, mounting a 25 mm or 30 mm cannon. The Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer is an 8X8 armoured wheeled vehicle which combines the proven and highly reliable drive train of the Centauro Family with a hull especially designed to ensure the maximum crew survivability. The Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer is focused on providing the infantry with the firepower and protection which they need to undertake their mission effectively, be it war fighting or peacekeeping.

Variants

- Centauro 105: three-man turret with 105 mm main gun
- Centauro 120: three-man turret with 120 mm main gun
- Centauro AIFV Freccia: armoured infantry fighting vehicle with HITFIST turret armed with 25mm cannon
- Centauro APC: armoured vehicle personnel carrier inside volume of 13.5m³ to carry 13 infantry soldiers
- Centauro ACP: armoured vehicle command post 13.5m³ to host a complete set of situation awareness and communication components.
- Centauro MC: mortar carrier, with 120 mm mortar at the rear.
- Centauro ARV: armoured recovery vehicle no turret, but an hydraulic crane to the top of the hull and front blade.

Technical Data

Armament

The Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer is equipped with a two-man Oto Melara HITFIST™ turret mounting a 25 mm or 30 mm cannon, as well as the associated fire control system and a range of sighting systems. The turret is built with ballistic aluminum alloy and additional steel armour plates to reach the required protection level. The main armament is composed by automatic cannon of 25 or 30mm, electrically controlled for elevation, traversing and firing operations; feeding is through belted rounds housed in two ammunition containers. A 7.62mm machine gun is coaxially mounted to left side of the main armament. Two anti-tank missile launchers are side-mounted on the turret with remote control integrated in the Oto Melara HITFIST™ turret. The turret is fitted with a fire control system allows engagement of targets by day and night. The HITFIST™ fire control system includes a sight with eye-safe laser rangefinder and a thermal night vision camera.

Design and protection

The hull of the Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer is virtually identical to the Centauro 105/120mm tank destroyer, with the driver being seated at the front of the hull on the left side with the power pack to the right. The monocoque hull is made in high hardness steel which provides a protection against small arms firing 12.7 mm caliber and shell splinters for the crew and infantry soldiers. The vehicle is also modified to provide greater mine and anti-tank blast protection. The front and the underside armour of the VBM Freccia Explorer can protect from 25mm to 30mm rounds and 6kg TFT blasts. The protection can be increased to withstand 8kg mine blasts. With an internal volume of about 11m³, the vehicle can accommodate a driver, a two man turret crew and 8 fully equipped infantry soldiers. The rear part of the hull is equipped with an hydraulic ramp that allows infantry soldiers to embark and disembark quickly of the vehicle.

Propulsion

As all the vehicles belonging to the Centauro family, the Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer has an outstanding tactical mobility, deriving from its powerful Iveco engine driving an automatic gearbox and enhanced by the 3-axles steering. The Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer is motorized with an IVECO VTCA V-6 turbocharged diesel engine developing 550 hp at 2,100 rpm coupled to an automatic gearbox with 5 front and 2 reverse gears.. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 110 km/h with a maximum range of 800 km. The maximum gradient is 60%, side slope 30%, and the vehicle has a fording depth of 1.5 m without preparation. The vehicle is able to negotiate natural and engineered trenches to 2 m maximum.

Accessories

Standard equipment of the Centauro VBM "Freccia" Explorer includes central tyre pressure inflation system, run-flat tyres, NBC system, integrated air conditioner, laser warning system and fire detection and suppression system. The driver position is equipped with 3 day episcopes in front of the hatch and night vision goggles. The Commander position is equipped with 8 episcopes around the hatch, TFT display for the visualization of the images coming from the day/night gunner sight and day/night panoramic sight with visualization of the images on a TFT display.

Specifications

Armament

One 25/30 mm gun, one coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, one anti-aircraft 7.62 mm machine gun. two launchers for anti-tank missile

Country users

Designer Company

Iveco Defence Vehicles and Oto Melara

Accessories

Central tyre inflation system, run-flat VFI system, hydraulic winch, NBC protection system, anti-mine seats, laser warning system, fire control system

Crew

3 + 8

Armor

Protection against small arms firing 12.7mm caliber all-around, anti-tank mine protection
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Weight

30,000 kg in combat / 22,000 kg empty

Speed

110 km/h on road

Range

800 km
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Dimensions

Length, 7.99m; Width, 2.99 m; Height, 2.67 m turret