Ariete - Photos & Videos

Ariete tank
Country	Italia
Role	Main battle tank
Produced	1995–2002
Built	200

The C1 Ariete (English: battering ram) is the main battle tank of the Italian Army, developed by Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara (CIO), a consortium formed by Iveco and OTO Melara. The chassis and engine were produced by Iveco, while the turret and fire-control system were supplied by OTO Melara.

Source: Ariete tank on Wikipedia

Ariete C1 Walk Around
Photographer	Unknow
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	44

Ariete C1 01

Ariete C1 44

Ariete C1 43

Ariete C1 42

Ariete C1 41

Ariete C1 40

Ariete C1 39

Ariete C1 38

Ariete C1 37

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MBT Ariete Walk Around
Photographer	Fabrizio Vaccari
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	47

General Characteristics and Role

The C1 Ariete (Italian for “Ram”) is the primary Main Battle Tank (MBT) of the Italian Army. Developed by a consortium of Iveco Fiat (hull and engine) and Oto Melara (turret and fire control), the Ariete was the first Italian-designed MBT since World War II. Its design began in the 1980s to replace the Leopard 1 and M60 tanks in Italian service and to meet the specific requirements of the Italian Army for a modern, highly protected, and powerful platform integrated with advanced digital systems. The tank incorporates multi-layered armor technology similar to British and German designs and is considered Italy’s equivalent to the French Leclerc or German Leopard 2.

Property	Typical Value (C1 Ariete)
Type	Main Battle Tank (MBT)
National Origin	Italy
Manufacturers	Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara (CIO)
Entered Service	1995
Crew	4 (Commander, Gunner, Loader, Driver)
Combat Weight	54 tonnes (59.5 tons)
Length (Gun Forward)	9.67 m (31 ft 9 in)
Width	3.61 m (11 ft 10 in)

Armament, Protection, and Mobility

Main Armament: 1 x 120 mm smoothbore OTO Breda gun (L/44 caliber, similar to the Rheinmetall L44).
Ammunition Capacity: 42 rounds (15 ready in the turret bustle, 27 in the hull). The gun can fire NATO standard APFSDS and HEAT rounds.
Secondary Armament: 2 x 7.62 mm MG 42/59 machine guns (one coaxial, one roof-mounted).
Armor: Composite armor based on British design (similar to Chobham), providing protection against kinetic energy penetrators and chemical energy warheads.
Engine: Iveco V-12 MTCA turbocharged diesel engine.
Engine Power: 1,275 hp (950 kW).
Maximum Road Speed: 65 km/h (40 mph).
Fire Control System: Galileo Avionica TURMS FCS (Tank Universal Reconfigurable Modular System) featuring panoramic sights, laser rangefinder, and stabilized thermal imagers, allowing for highly accurate firing while moving.

Service and Future

Operational Use: The Ariete has been deployed by the Italian Army in various international peacekeeping and stability operations, notably in Iraq.
Production: A total of 200 Ariete tanks were produced for the Italian Army.
Key Criticism: The primary drawback cited for the C1 Ariete is its relatively underpowered engine (1,275 hp) compared to modern MBTs like the Leopard 2 (1,500 hp), which limits acceleration and mobility given its weight.
Modernization Program: Italy is currently undertaking a major life-extension and modernization program, the C2 Ariete, which will involve installing a new, more powerful engine (upgraded to 1,500 hp), enhanced armor packages, and fully digitized electronics to keep the tank relevant for decades to come.