IVECO Defence Vehicles in talks with Colombia for delivery 8x8 VBM Freccia infantry vehicle 2504121

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Defense News - Colombia
 
 
Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 10:20 AM
 
IVECO Defence Vehicles in talks with Colombia for delivery of 8x8 VBM Freccia infantry vehicle.

Italian manufacturers IVECO Defence Vehicles are in talks with Colombian officials to negotiate the delivery of new military vehicles including the 8x8 IFV VBM Freccia. The Colombia Army has a requirement for a new 8x8 Infantry Fighting Vehicle as it is trying to improve its armoured component. The Colombian Army currently operates with the Brazilian made EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu.
     

VBM Freccia armoured infantry fighting vehicle of Italian army
     

Colombia is also looking at the other vehicles such as the US Stryker that appears to be favoured due to the strong military and strategic links between Colombia and US. The two countries have worked together in a strong partnership aimed to fight drug traffic and illegal smuggling. The US can use Colombian bases and infrastructures to deploy military assets, including CIA and American Special Forces personnel operate in Colombia to mentor and support local counterparts.

The VBM Freccia (Veicolo Blindato Medio, medium armored vehicle) IFV is a variant of the Italian Centauro B1 tank destroyer. Sometimes this IFV is referred as the Centauro VBC. It was developed as a private venture, but was aimed at the Italian Army requirement for a wheeled IFV to operate alongside the Centauro tank destroyers. The first prototype was completed in 1996. Italian Army ordered a number of the Freccia (Arrow) IFVs in 2006. Army has requirement for 249 vehicles of this type to equip two medium brigades. The VBM Freccia received no export orders.

The Freccia is fitted with the OTO Melara Hifist Plus turret. It is an improved variant of the turret used on the Dardo IFV, armed with 25-mm cannon and two 7.62-mm machine guns. An ATGW variant of the Freccia is equipped with two Rafael Spike ML/LR anti-tank guided missiles additionally to the 25-mm cannon.
Secondary armament consists of two 7.62-mm machine guns. One of them is mounted coaxially with the main gun, and another is located on top of the roof.