Design of the Freccia platform The VBM – Freccia is a Medium Armoured Combat Vehicle
("Veicolo Blindato Medio Freccia"). It is an up-armoured variant of the
Centauro (tactical reconnaissance and tank destroyer). It was designed by Iveco Defence Vehicles and OTO Melara with their own resources in order to meet the needs of the Italian Army. A first prototype was produced in 1996. Following a long test campaign, the Italian army selected this vehicle as the winner of the competition and placed a first order for 249 vehicles in 2006. In 2021, a contract was concluded for the design of a
MLU of this first generation of vehicles. This agreement focuses on making the architecture modular, easy and less costly to adapt. Applications can be added to the multi functional control unit as plug and play. It reduces the number of application specific control units, and therefore minimises the need for space and energy. The data, power, communication, sensors, effectors are all integrated according to this architecture. One of the element of this architecture is the SICCONA C2D command, control and navigation system, which includes NEC (Network Enabled Capability). The main variant is the Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and the Anti Tank variant. Both are equipped with a
Hitfist manned turret, which has a
KBA 25 mm autocannon. For the anti-tank variant, the first variant is equipped with anti-tank missiles to be employed by the dismounted infantry. In the future, a
Spike LR missile is to be integrated to the turret.
Upgrade to the Freccia PLUS Platform Additional vehicles for reconnaissance and additional infantry fighting capabilities were needed to equip the infantry troops. Improvements on the Freccia platform were necessary to keep up with the new technologies. The Freccia PLUS is a development of the
Centauro 2. The main improvements include a new
powertrain. The engine power is raised from to , by modifying the engine to common rail direct injection, and preparing it for a future hybrid-electric propulsion system. The armament capabilities are improved. The turret selected is the unmanned
Hitfist OWS equipped with the Leonardo's X-GUN 30mm
30×173mm chain gun replacing the Oerlikon
KBA 25 mm autocannon and can be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles mounted on the side of the turret. The
Spike LR is the one used by the Italian Army. The turret is also equipped with a new fire control system. The thermal aiming for the gunner is supplied by
Leonardo with the Lothar D (Land Optronic Thermal Aiming Resource). The commander gets a digital sight, and a mast with a panoramic sight is available especially for the reconnaissance variant, the Janus D also supplied by Leonardo. As for the communications, Leonardo supplies the SWave VQ1 4-channel software defined radio which operates in the HF, VHF and UHF bands, plus a digital intercom system is available. The Italian Army variant is including it in its
Network Enhanced Capability, known as the SICCONA C2D/N EVO which is to be expanded to the other
armoured fighting vehicles. The navigation system is using both the
GPS signals and the
Galileo PRS. The
Iron Fist hard-kill protection system has already been tested, a potential integration is being evaluated by the Italian Army. It would most likely be the Light-Decoupled Iron Fist (IF-LD). == Variants ==