Iveco Freccia

The VBM Freccia is an 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle developed for the Italian Army by the Iveco-OTO Melara Consortium (CIO). Designed starting in 1996 as a successor to Cold War-era platforms including the M113, VCC-2, and M106, the vehicle was created to provide a more mobile, wheeled alternative to tracked personnel carriers. The platform is an up-armored derivative of the Centauro reconnaissance vehicle and tank destroyer. Following a test campaign, the Italian Army placed its first order for the vehicle in 2006, and it entered service in 2008.

The hull is constructed from high-hardness monocoque steel integrated with ceramic ballistic armor. The base protection level provides frontal defense against 30mm APFSDS rounds and side defense against 14.5mm AP rounds. The floor utilizes a V-shaped configuration to withstand mine and IED blasts of up to 8kg TNT equivalent. The vehicle’s electronic architecture follows NATO STANAG 4754 (NGVA) for modularity, integrating the SICCONA C2D command and navigation system.

Primary armament for the infantry fighting vehicle variant consists of a manned Hitfist turret equipped with an Oerlikon KBA 25mm autocannon. The anti-tank variant utilizes the same turret but incorporates Spike LR missiles. Other operational variants include a mortar carrier with a 120mm TDA-2R2M rifled mortar and command post vehicles equipped with extensive C4I suites.

An upgraded platform, designated Freccia PLUS, incorporates a 720 hp engine with common rail direct injection and a new fire control system. This version features the Hitfist OWS unmanned turret armed with a 30mm chain gun and Spike LR2 missiles. Targeting systems include the Lothar D thermal sight for the gunner and the Janus D panoramic sight for reconnaissance. Communications are managed via software-defined radios operating in HF, VHF, and UHF bands, while navigation utilizes both GPS and Galileo PRS signals. Integration of the Iron Fist hard-kill protection system has also been evaluated for this platform.

The Italian Army is the primary operator of the Freccia, deploying the vehicle within the "Pinerolo," "Aosta," and "Sassari" mechanized brigades. The vehicle has been the subject of several international export efforts. In 2012, the Russian Ground Forces tested the Freccia in multiple configurations, including variants fitted with 30mm and 125mm cannons; however, cooperation was terminated in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea. The platform has competed in tenders for the Spanish Army and Slovenian Ground Force but was not selected. It remains a candidate for a Chilean Army requirement for 8×8 armored vehicles.