Italian Army Receives first Lynx Fighting Vehicles

The Italian Army has taken delivery of its first Lynx infantry fighting vehicles, marking the formal launch of the Army Armoured Combat Systems program, Leonardo and Rheinmetall announced on January 27.

According to Leonardo, the first four Lynx vehicles were delivered to the Italian Army at the Multifunctional Experimentation Center (Ce.Poli.Spe) in Montelibretti by the Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles joint venture. The handover activates the A2CS program, under which Italy plans to acquire a new generation of tracked armored combat vehicles for its land forces.

The initial contract, signed at the end of 2025, covers 21 A2CS Combat vehicles, with further procurement phases expected as the Italian Army renews its heavy mechanized fleet. The delivery ceremony was attended by Italy’s Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Luciano Portolano, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army Gen. Carmine Masiello, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani, and Rheinmetall Vehicle Systems Europe head Björn Bernhard.

The Italian Ministry of Defence said the program is intended to modernize land combat capabilities through the introduction of a digitally integrated armored platform developed through Italian–German industrial cooperation. The Lynx vehicles will undergo testing and evaluation at Ce.Poli.Spe before entering operational service.

“The international scenario requires a constantly evolving Defence, capable of ensuring the security of the country and safeguarding national interests,” Crosetto said at the ceremony. “Within this framework comes the delivery of the Lynx armored vehicle, the result of Italian-German industrial cooperation, to the Italian Army, aimed at strengthening land systems through the introduction of state-of-the-art platforms.”

Gen. Masiello said the delivery signals the beginning of a long-planned mechanization effort for the Army’s maneuver forces. “The Army has a clear direction and well-defined requirements for the new vehicles to accelerate the mechanization path of the Armed Force, which concretely begins today,” he said. “This vehicle will radically change the way the Army fights.”

The four vehicles delivered are equipped with Rheinmetall’s Lance 30mm turret, which will later be replaced by Leonardo’s Hitfist 30mm turret on subsequent production vehicles. Leonardo confirmed that all remaining Lynx vehicles under the current contract will be fitted with the Hitfist turret, reflecting Italy’s intent to integrate domestic subsystems into the fleet.

The Lynx platform is designed as a modular tracked vehicle capable of multiple configurations, including infantry fighting vehicle, armored personnel carrier, command post, and medical evacuation variant. Italian officials said the A2CS vehicles are intended to operate in networked formations, with high levels of digital connectivity to support joint and multinational operations.

Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani said the first delivery represents a key milestone for the joint program. “The start of deliveries of the new armoured vehicles represents an important milestone in the programme we are carrying out with the Italian Army,” he said. “The alliance between Leonardo and Rheinmetall continues to stand as a key reference point for strengthening national defence and for the development of a competitive European industrial base.”

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger described the handover as the start of a new phase for the Lynx vehicle family in Europe. “With the handover of the first armoured vehicles to the Italian armed forces, we are opening a new chapter in the success story of the Lynx vehicle family,” he said.

The A2CS program, previously known as the Armoured Infantry Combat System, is one of two major land modernization efforts underway in Italy, alongside a new main battle tank program. Together, the initiatives are intended to replace aging armored platforms and provide the Army with vehicles suited for high-intensity operations in multi-domain environments.

Italian defense officials said the program will also support domestic industry by expanding local production, integration, and support work through the Leonardo–Rheinmetall joint venture. The companies have indicated that future variants and upgrades will be developed in cooperation with the Italian Army to match evolving operational requirements.