Freccia IFV

The VBM – Freccia is a family of 8x8 armoured vehicles that was designed and manufactured for the Italian Army by IVECO for the hull, the engine and the suspension, and OTO Melara for the armament. The first variant to be developed was the IFV, the Freccia being equipped with a Hitfist turret, the same as the one installed on the Dardo IFV.

Background
The Italian Army was looking for a successor to some of the Cold War era M113 variants in the Italian Army, among which the VCC-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, the VCC-2 Armoured personnel carrier and the M106 mortar carrier.

The VCC-1 IFV was replaced by the Dardo IFV. The Freccia was ordered to replace Cold War VCC-2 armoured personnel carriers of the Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo" in Southern Italy.

A change in the doctrine for a more mobile vehicle was the reason behind the choice of a wheeled platform. And as a support to the infantry, a turret was selected to equip the successor of the VCC-2 APC variant, which increased the capabilities and the power of the infantry brigades. Some other variants such as command post vehicles, mortar carriers are also in use in the Italian Army.

Several batches have been ordered since the first one in 2006.

Design of the Freccia platform
The VBM – Freccia is a Medium Armoured Combat Vehicle ("Veicolo Blindato Medio Freccia"). It is an up-armoured variant of the Centauto B1 (tactical reconnaissance and tank destroyer). It was designed by Iveco and OTO Melara with their own ressources in order to meet the needs of the Italian Army. A first prototype was produced in 1996. Following a long test campaign, the Italian army selected this vehicle as the winner of the competition and placed a first order for 249 vehicles in 2006. In 2021, a contract was concluded for the design of a MLU of this first generation of vehicles.

After this first batch, the Italian Army needed additional vehicles to replace the specialised variants of the M113 in service.

The electronic architecture of the vehicle is designed according to the NATO General Vehicle Architecture (NGVA) STANAG 4754. This agreement focuses on making the architecture modular, easy and less costly to adapt. Applications can be added to the multi functional control unit as plug and play. It reduces the number of application specific control units, and therefore minimises the need for space and energy. The data, power, communication, sensors, effectors are all integrated according to this architecture. One of the element of this architecture is the SICCONA C2D command, control and navigation system, which includes NEC (Network Enabled Capability).

The main variant is the Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and the Anti Tank variant. Both are equipped with a Hitfist manned turret, which has a KBA 25 mm autocanon. For the anti-tank variant, the first variant is equipped with anti-tank missiles to be employed by the dismounted infantry. In the future, a Spike LR missile is to be integrated to the turret.

Upgrade to the Freccia EVO Platform
Additional vehicles for reconnaissance and additional infantry fighting capabilities were needed to equip the infantry troops. Improvements on the Freccia platform were necessary to keep up with the new technologies.

The Freccia EVO is a development of the Centauro II. The main improvements include a new powertrain. The engine power is raised from 550 hp to 660 hp, and a hybrid traction system is optionally available.

The armament capabilities are improved. The turret selected is the unmanned Hitfist ® OWS equipped with the Bushmaster II 30×173mm chain gun replacing the Oerlikon KBA 25 mm autocanon and can be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles mounted on the side of the turret. The Spike LR is the one used by the Italian Army. The turret is also equipped with a new fire control system. The thermal aiming for the gunner is supplied by Leonardo with the Lothar D (Land Optronic Thermal Aiming Resource). The commander gets a digital sight, and a mast with a panoramic sight is available especially for the reconnaissance variant, the Janus D also supplied by Leonardo.

As for the communications, Leonardo supplies the SWave VQ1 4-channel software defined radio which operates in the HF, VHF and UHF bands, plus a digital intercom system is available. The Italian Army variant is including it in its Network Enhanced Capability, known as the SICCONA C2D/N EVO which is to be expanded to the other armoured fighting vehicles.

The navigation system is using both the GPS signals and the Galileo PRS.

The Iron Fist hard-kill protection system has already been tested, a potential integration is being evaluated by the Italian Army. It would most likely be the Light-Decoupled Iron Fist (IF-LD).

Operational variants
Variants of the Freccia platform in service with the Italian Army.
 * VBM da Combattimento (AIFV): An infantry fighting vehicle equipped with a two-man Hitfist turret with a KBA 25 mm autocanon.
 * VBM Controcarro (ATGW): An infantry fighting vehicle equipped with a two-man Hitfist turret with a KBA 25 mm autocanon. Anti-tank guided missiles are included in the internal armament of the variant. A dual Spike LR anti-tank missile launcher will be added to the turret with the middle-life upgrade.
 * VBM Porta Mortaio: A mortar carrier equipped with the TDA-2R2M 120 mm mortar system and a RCWS Hitrole L with a M2 Browning 12.7 mm NATO machine gun
 * VBM Posto Comando: Two variants are in operation in the Italian Army
 * Veicolo Nucleo Comando (nu. Cdo): Used by the brigade commander, equipped with a RCWS Hitrole L which uses a heavy machine gun, the M2 Browning in 12.7 mm NATO. A C4 (command, control, communication and computer) installation is part of its equipment, and additional communication equipment compared to the base IFV variant.  It has access to SATCOM, it is equipped with the SIACCON system (Italian Automated Information System for Command and Control), 3 servers, and 4 LRT350+ computer posts.
 * Veicolo Nucleo Tattico (nu. tat.):  Vehicle used by the platoon commander. The base vehicle is the VBM da Combattimento (AIFV), equipped with a two-man Hitfist turret with a KBA 25 mm autocanon and the same C4 equipment as for the Veicolo Nucleo Comando is available in the armoured vehicle.

Future variants
The army plans to acquire 300 Freccia EVO, 120 of which in the Reconnaissance variant.


 * Freccia EVO Combat: With a remote Hitfist OWS turret with 30 mm autocanon and a Spike LR2 missile.
 * Freccia EVO Reconnaissance: With a remote Hitfist OWS turret with 30 mm autocanon and a Spike LR2 missile launcher, plus a Janus sensor mast.

Prototypes
Prototypes based on both the Freccia and the Centauro common chassis:
 * VBM Freccia APC: An armoured personnel carrier variant that was initially planned, but none has been ordered yet, and none is planned to be ordered by the Italian Army.
 * VBC con torretta T60/70A: A variant equipped with a turret Hitfist on which a 60mm self-loading autocannon by OTO Melara is installed, expected to be used as an anti-armour vehicle, but it was never ordered.
 * VBM Freccia Recupero:   An armoured recovery vehicle.
 * DRACO:  A SPAAG (self-propelled anti-air gun) and anti-missile gun, based on the naval autocanon OTO-Melara 76 mm Super Rapido. It can also be used as C-RAM system with DART ammunition.
 * Porcospino: The "Porcupine" is a self-propelled howitzer using a 155mm L/39 artillery gun.

Freccia PLUS (second phase)
The main modifications are:


 * Engine power: from 550 hp to 660 hp by modifying the engine to common rail direct injection, and preparing it for a future hybrid-electric propulsion system.
 * Turret: modifying electronic and optic components, as well as command systems.

Operators
Italian Army
 * 🇮🇹 Italy
 * Mechanized Brigade "Pinerolo":
 * 9th Infantry Regiment "Bari"
 * 7th Bersaglieri Regiment
 * 82nd Infantry Regiment "Torino"
 * Mechanized Brigade "Aosta"
 * 5th Infantry Regiment "Aosta"
 * 6th Bersaglieri Regiment
 * 62nd Infantry Regiment "Sicilia"
 * Mechanized Brigade "Sassari":
 * 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment

Successful bids
 (330)


 * Freccia (phase 1) (249) 
 * 190 VBM da Combattimento (AIFV)
 * 36 VBM Controcarro (ATGW)
 * 21 VBM Porta Mortaio
 * 2 VBM Posto Comando
 * Feccia PLUS (phase 2), Budget approved in 2019, and to be delivered (81)  
 * 5 VBM da Combattimento (AIFV)
 * 36 VBM Controcarro (ATGW)
 * 14 VBM Porta Mortaio
 * 26 VBM Posto Comando (2 variants)

Ongoing negotiation and evaluation
 (300)


 * Freccia EVO – negotiation for several vehicles based on the VBM
 * 180 in several variants
 * 120 VBM Esploranti

Potential operators

 * (up to 106)
 * The Slovenian Army is looking for up to 106 APC with a budget of €700 million after rejecting the contract for the Boxer. The finalists of the competition are the Piranha V, the Freccia, the Rosomak L and the Patria AMVXP.


 * 🇨🇱 Chile (> 200)
 * The Chilean Army is looking for a successor to its 160 Piraña I 6×6 and 30 Piraña I 8×8. On a long term perspecitve, more than 200 vehicles are expected to be purchased, but in the meantime, a first phase of the replacement includes a tender for 40 8×8 armoured vehicles. The requirement mentions a maximum weight of 38 tons. Among the known competitors are:
 * Altuğ by the Turkish BMC
 * AMV by the Finnish Patria Group
 * Arma by the Turkish Otokar
 * Freccia by the Italian Iveco
 * Pandur II 8×8 by the Czech Excalibur Army

Failed bids



 * In 2015, a program to replace the VEC-M1, the BMR-M1 and part of the M113 fleet was launched by the Spanish Army. The competitors were the Boxer, the Freccia, the Patria AMV, the Piranha V, the SEP and the VBCI.
 * In September 2015, the competition was won by GDELS with the Piranha V. In December 2019, the Spanish Government cancelled the program, and relaunched the competition. In August 2020, the Piranha V of GDELS Santa Barbara Sistemas in collaboration with Indra Sistemas and Sapa Placencia won again the competition for a first batch of 348 vehicles for €1.74 billion. It is known as the Dragón VCR.

 Russian Ground Forces


 * In 2012, the Russian Army tested the Freccia fitted with a 30mm turret and the Centauro in 3 variants, equipped with the 105mm canon on the Centauro B1, one fitted with a Russian 125mm tank gun, and another one with a NATO 120mm tank gun with the HITFACT 120mm turret.
 * A discussion for up to 2,500 vehicles was mentioned. Following the Annexation of Crimea in 2014, sanctions were imposed on Russia, and all cooperation on armament was cancelled.