18 January 2001

IVECO and OTOBreda developed the Centauro 8 x 8 tank destroyer to meet an Italian Army requirement for a tank destroyer with the firepower of a Leopard 1 main battle tank and greater strategic mobility. IVECO is responsible for the chassis and OTOBreda for the three-person turret.

The main armament is a stabilised 105mm rifled tank gun which fires standard NATO ammunition types with a computerised fire- control system and day/night sights. The Centauro can carry four troops in the rear with a reduced 105mm ammunition load.

The Centauro is fitted with power steering, a winch, a fire detection and suppression system, an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system, an air conditioning system and a central tyre pressure regulation system. Some vehicles have been fitted with additional armour.

Specifications

Crew: 4

Configuration: 8 x 8

Armament: 1x 105mm gun (main); 1x 7.62mm machine gun (co-axial); 1x or 2x 7.62mm machine gun (air defence)

Combat weight: 25,000kg

Power-to-weight ratio: 20.8hp/t

Power pack: IVECO MTCA V6 diesel developing 520 hp coupled to a ZF 5 HP 1500 automatic transmission

Length: 8.555m

Width: 3.05m

Height: 2.735m

Max speed: 105km/h

Range: 800km

Airportable: C-130 Hercules

Status

In production. The Centauro is in service with Italy (400) and entering service with Spain (22).

Variants

An armoured personnel carrier is under development and other types of turrets can be installed such as one with a 60mm gun.

Manufacturer

IVECO, Bolzano, Italy, and OTOBreda, La Spezia, Italy

IVECO and OTOBreda developed Centauro 8 x 8 tank destroyer (Source: M Jerchel)