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The Freccia (Italian: Arrow) is an Italian 8x8 wheeled Infantry fighting vehicle in use with the Italian Army. The first batch of 249 vehicles were ordered to replace Cold War VCC-2 armoured personnel carriers of the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" in Southern Italy. The Freccia is built by a consortium combining Iveco (hull, engine, suspension) and Oto Melara (armament).

Freccia
Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" Freccia
Type	Wheeled infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	2006 – present
Wars	War in Afghanistan
Specifications
Mass	28 tonnes (31 short tons; 28 long tons)
Length	7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
Width	2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Height	3.0 m (9 ft 10 in)
Crew	3 crew (commander, gunner, driver) + 8 passengers
Armor	Welded steel hull with ceramic applications
Main armament	Oerlikon KBA 25x137 mm automatic cannon (200 rounds)
Secondary armament	7.62mm co-axial machine gun (4,000 cartridges), optional 7.62mm anti-air machine gun, 8 smoke generators
Engine	IVECO Diesel 5HP-1500 V6 405 kW (560 hp)
Power/weight	22,2 hp/tonne
Suspension	hydropneumatic
Operational range	800–1,000 km (500–620 mi)
Maximum speed	105 km/h (65 mph) 25–30 km/h (16–19 mph) off road

Design

The Freccia is up-armoured and improved variant of the wheeled Centauro tank destroyer fitted with the Hitfist turret (an evolution of the turret used on the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle), which is armed with an Oerlikon KBA 25mm autocannon and carries 200 rounds of 25×137mm ammunition. Two 7.62mm NATO machine guns are also fitted. Additionally, a pair of Spike MR/LR anti-tank missiles can be fitted on the turret. The Hitfist turret could theoretically also fit cannons and guns of up to 60mm calibre. Four 80mm smoke grenade launchers are mounted on each side of the turret. The fire control system is the same as for the Centauro reconnaissance/anti-tank version. The Freccia can carry up to eight combat-ready troops.

Procurement

In 2006, the Italian government ordered a first batch of 249 Freccia vehicles in the versions: 190 Combat, 36 Combat Anti-tank, 2 Command Post and 21 Mortar Carrier. All of these were delivered by 6 June 2017 and used to equip the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo".

In December 2019 a further 81 Freccia were ordered: 5 Combat, 36 Combat Anti-tank, 26 Command Post and 14 Mortar Carrier.[1]

An additional 300 Freccia EVO will be ordered: 180 in various versions to complete the accouterment of the Mechanized Brigade "Aosta", and 120 Freccia EVO Reconnaissance to equip the army's cavalry regiments.[1]

Variants

• Freccia Combat, with a two-man Hitfist turret with KBA 25mm autocannon
• Freccia Combat Anti-tank, with a two-man Hitfist turret with KBA 25mm autocannon and dual Spike LR anti-tank missile launcher
• Freccia Command Post, in two versions: Freccia Tactical Squad and Freccia Command Squad
• Freccia Mortar Carrier, with TDA-2R2M 120mm mortar

Centauro II

In July 2018, the Italian Army signed a €159 million (USD $186 million) contract to acquire 10 Centauro II tank destroyers, the first tranche of a planned 150-vehicle order. The 30-ton Centauro II is based on the Freccia chassis with a two-man turret with a 120 mm gun. Additional improvements include a digital communications system, a 720 hp engine delivering 24 hp/ton, and wheels extending farther out from the hull for greater stability and better protection against mine blasts.[2]

Due to the combination of its eight-wheeled configuration and revised chassis, the Centauro II can withstand the higher recoil of a high-velocity 120mm cannon, while equivalent vehicles with fewer wheels or weaker chassis are often limited to lower velocity and/or lower-calibre cannons. The gun is also fitted with an efficient muzzle brake.[3]

Freccia EVO

The Freccia EVO is a development of the Centauro II with a remote Hitfist OWS turret with 30mm autocannon. The army plans to acquire 300 Freccia EVO, 120 of which in the Reconnaissance variant.[1]

• Freccia EVO Combat, with a remote Hitfist OWS turret with 30mm autocannon
• Freccia EVO Reconnaissance, with a remote Hitfist OWS turret with 30mm autocannon and Janus sensor mast

Current operators

• Italian Army:
  • Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo":
    • 9th Infantry Regiment "Bari"
    • 7th Bersaglieri Regiment
    • 82nd Infantry Regiment "Torino"
  • Mechanized Brigade "Aosta"
    • 5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta"
    • 6th Bersaglieri Regiment
    • 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia"
  • Mechanized Brigade "Sassari":
    • 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment

The Freccia EVO Reconnaissance and Centauro II will equip the army's cavalry regiments.

See also

Comparable vehicles

References

External links

• Italian Army homepage: Freccia
• Official website

На других языках

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[de] Freccia

Der Freccia (dt. Pfeil) ist ein italienischer 8x8-Radschützenpanzer.

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- [en] Freccia IFV

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[ru] Фреччиа

Фреччиа (итал. Freccia) — современная итальянская многоцелевая бронированная машина.

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