New Italian Tank To Be Funded As Cash for Freccia Vehicle Slows

Tom Kington, Defense News
4 hours ago

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Germano Dottori, a lecturer in strategic studies at Rome’s LUISS University, said that Italian Army generals might also be routing for a new battle tank.

“What they might be better off buying are Leopard II tanks, which is what the generals want,” Dottori said.

The Army is now down to about 30 functioning Arietes — its main battle tank — after savage cuts to maintenance budgets left many tanks without parts and out of service, he said.

Dottori said the Leopard II had recently beaten the Ariete in a NATO firing test, upping its reputation in Italy.

“If Italy wanted to go into Libya, its hands would be tied because it does not have battle tanks,” he said.