Key Takeaways

• The Italian army received four Lynx fighting vehicles from Rheinmetall, initiating a larger order of 1,050 units.
• The deal follows a defense cooperation agreement between Italy and Germany aimed at enhancing military interoperability and reducing industry fragmentation.
• Future deliveries will include additional Lynx variants, potentially boosting the entire deal’s value to €23 billion ($27.5 billion).

Italian Army Welcomes Lynx Vehicles from Rheinmetall

The Italian army has officially received four Lynx fighting vehicles from Rheinmetall, marking the initial delivery in a substantial order of 1,050 vehicles. The unveiling took place at the army’s test range in Montelibretti, Italy, attended by high-ranking officials including Italy’s defense chief and defense minister, along with representatives from Rheinmetall and Italian defense company Leonardo.

Rheinmetall’s European vehicles head, Björn Bernhard, emphasized the significance of this delivery as “a strategic signal” for European defense collaboration, stating that Europe’s fragmented defense landscape poses risks. He advocated for industrial integration and standardization across military systems as essential for increased resilience against emerging threats.

This delivery coincides with a recent defense cooperation pact between Italy and Germany, which aims to streamline operations, enhance standardization, and improve interoperability between their military forces. The first quartet of Lynx vehicles will soon be supplemented by a fifth, each equipped with a Rheinmetall-supplied turret. An additional 16 Lynx vehicles, set for delivery between October 2023 and early 2027, will feature turret designs developed by Leonardo.

Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani noted that the Italian turrets are expected to be integrated either at Leonardo’s La Spezia plant or at Iveco Defence Vehicles—acquired by Leonardo last year. The initial five Lynx vehicles will also receive retrofitting with the Hitfist turret.

Luca Perazzo, the deputy managing director of defense systems at Leonardo, announced that the Italian Army has an option for an additional 30 vehicles in the same configuration, likely to be confirmed within this year. The agreement also lays the groundwork for a joint venture, Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles, expected to deliver prototypes of five new Lynx variants by 2028. These variants are planned to fulfill 16 distinct operational roles.

Bernhard revealed that this initiative aims to consolidate all the capabilities of an armored brigade onto a singular technological framework for the first time. Moreover, the Italian army is also looking at collaborating with Rheinmetall and Leonardo to produce up to 272 variants of Rheinmetall’s Panther tanks, extending the overall contract to an estimated €23 billion ($27.5 billion). The first prototypes of the Panther tanks are anticipated by early 2030.

Both the Lynx and Panther programs have been validated for inclusion under the European Union’s SAFE plan, allowing countries to procure defense-related funding for these vehicles. This development underscores the ongoing efforts to enhance the security and technological capabilities of the European defense landscape.

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