The 105-mm armor-piercing armor-piercing projectile of the Centauro armored vehicle has an armor penetration of 480 mm RHA from 2,000 m. The 120mm armor-piercing armor-piercing projectile designed for this gun is claimed to have armor penetration of 600 mm homogeneous steel armor (RHA) from a distance of 3000 m (angle was not mentioned). The 120 mm / 45 gun has high ballistics, a muzzle brake and recoil reduction mechanisms, and is also equipped with a sensor for measuring the initial velocity of the projectile. The Centauro II HITFACT II turret is equipped with a 120 mm / 45 smoothbore gun developed by Oto Melara (an optional 105 mm / 52 cannon can be used). They will be replaced in version 3.0 with a more compact four-sided antenna mounted on the roof of the turret.

The main external difference between version 3.0 and version 2.0 will be the rejection of the characteristic four large circular integrated integrated antennas of the RCIED system installed on the prototypes, combining communications, an identification system and a navigation system. The total value of the contract (with an option) is 1.1595 billion euros, which should be allocated from 2020 to 2030.Įarlier in July 2018, the Italian Ministry of Defense issued a CIO contract of € 159 million for the supply of the first 10 Centauro II production vehicles (2.0 version) to the Italian army, which should be delivered from the first quarter of 2021 to the first quarter of 2022. The contract option includes 56 more Centauro II vehicles (also in version 3.0), three armored repair and recovery vehicles on the chassis of the VBM Freccia wheeled armored personnel carrier, five spare sets of Centauro II armored vehicles and turrets, service support, etc. The contract also includes a 10-year warranty service and the supply of spare parts and necessary equipment, including repair, training of personnel, and the supply of four spare sets of armored hulls and turrets of Centauro II. The contract price includes the conversion of a prototype Centauro II from version 2.0 to version 3.0.

These 40 gun carriers must be delivered in a new version 3.0. On May 28, 2020, the National Arms Directorate of the Italian Ministry of Defense announced a contract with the Italian consortium CIO for the supply of 40 additional new wheeled 8x8 Centauro II armored vehicles with 120 mm guns to the Italian Army.

Modern tank destroyer amx-10rcr