The Centauro 105mm is a wheeled tank destroyer designed for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance. The vehicle was designed and manufactured by a consortium of Italian Companies IVECO Defence Vehicles and Oto Melara. Iveco Defence Vehicles was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon systems. In the 1980s, the Italian Army drew up its requirements for a complete new family of tracked and wheeled armoured fighting vehicles to meet its future requirements for the 1990s. Early in 1984, the Italian Army formulated its requirements for a new highly mobile wheeled tank destroyer that was required to have a standard NATO 105 mm rifled tank gun. The first complete prototype was finished in January 1987 with the second following in mid-1987 and, by December, four complete vehicles were involved in the trials programme. Prototypes 5 to 9 were completed in 1988 and, in addition, a ballistic hull was built. The prototypes were followed by a preproduction batch of 10 vehicles, which were completed from late-1989. Production of the Centauro commenced late in 1990 with first production vehicles being completed in 1991. In mid-1999, the Spanish MoD awarded the IVECO Oto Melara consortium a contract worth US$70 million for the supply of 22 Centauro (8 × 8) armoured vehicles plus a training and support package. These were brand new vehicles and were delivered to the Spanish Army late in 2000. The Spanish vehicles are the same as those supplied to the Italian Army but will be capable of being fitted with an explosive reactive armour package developed in Spain by Santa Barbara Sistemas. In 2018, Spanish Company SDLE has won a contract to deliver 80 Centauro to the Jordanian army.
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| Armament |
| Main armament comprises an Oto Melara-designed 105 mm 52 caliber rifled gun with a long recoil system that fires standard NATO tank ammunition as used in the L7 and M68 guns, including APFSDS. The weapon has a vertical sliding breech mechanism that remains open after the empty cartridge case has been ejected and is fitted with a multi-slotted muzzle brake, a thermal sleeve with an integral fume extractor and a muzzle reference system. There are 40 rounds of 105 mm ammunition carried, 14 of which are in the turret and the remainder in the hull. A 7.62 mm MG 42/59 machine gun is mounted coaxially to the left of the main armament. A 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine can be mounted on the turret roof for anti-aircraft defence. Mounted either side of the turret is a bank of four electrically operated 76 mm smoke grenade dischargers that fire over the frontal arc of the vehicle. Turret traverse and weapon elevation are electrohydraulic with manual controls for emergency use with elevation being from -6 to +15º, slightly less than MBTs because of the low turret profile. |
| Design and protection |
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The hull and turret of the Centauro are of all-welded steel armour construction, which provides the crew with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. Over the frontal arc, protection is provided against penetration from 20 mm projectiles and against 12.7 mm attack all round. The driver is seated at the front of the hull offset to the left with the power pack to his right and separated from the remainder of the vehicle by a fireproof bulkhead. The driver is provided with an adjustable seat, a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the left and three day periscopes for forward observation, the center one of which can be replaced by an MES VG/DIL passive periscope for night driving. The turret is mounted on the roof of the hull slightly to the rear of the vehicle's centreline, with the commander on the left, gunner on the right and loader forward and below the gunner. The commander is provided with four day periscopes to give observation to the front, sides and rear. The stabilized day sight is mounted forward of the commander's hatch and gives full 360º observation without head movement. The gunner leaves the vehicle via the loader's single-piece hatch that opens to the rear with five day periscopes being provided in the right side of the turret roof for use by the gunner and loader. The turret of the Centauro is the complete responsibility of Oto Melara at La Spezia and is delivered fully integrated and tested and ready for installation on the chassis.
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| Propulsion |
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The Centauro is powered by an IVECO VTCA V-6 turbocharged diesel developing 520 hp at 2,300 rpm which, with a combat weight of 25 tonnes, gives a good power-to-weight ratio of 20.8 hp/t. The engine is coupled to a German ZF 5 HP 1500 fully automatic transmission with five forward and two reverse gears which in turn provides power to a ZF transfer case. The ZF transmission and transfer case are manufactured under license in Bolzano. The complete Centauro power pack can be replaced in 20 minutes. From the transmission, power goes to the differential, which distributes power to either side of the vehicle via a propeller shaft. Each of the latter then engages a series of shafts and conic couplings (one for each wheel). The suspension is of the hydropneumatic type with powered steering on the front four and last two road wheels, with the latter only operating at speeds of under 20 km/h. A central tyre-pressure regulation system is fitted as standard which allows the driver to adjust the tyre pressure to suit the ground being crossed while the vehicle is still moving. The tyres are of the run-flat type.
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| Accessories |
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Mounted in the turret bustle is the Sekur NBC system which is of a similar design to that installed in the Ariete MBT and is of the overpressure type. An integrated air conditioning system is installed allowing the crew to operate the vehicle with the outside temperature ranging from -30 to +44ºC.
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| Specifications |
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Armament
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One 105 mm cannon, one coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, one anti-aircraft 7.62 mm or 12.7mm machine gun.
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Country users
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Italy, Jordan, Spain, Oman
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Designer Country
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Italy
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Accessories
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Central tire inflation system, air conditioning, NBC protection system and night vision equipment
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Crew
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4
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Armor
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Protection against small arms firing 12.7mm caliber, 20mm at the front and shell splinters.
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Weight
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25,000 kg in combat
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Speed
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105 km/h on road
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Range
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800 km
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Dimensions
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Length, 7.85 m; Width, 3.05 m; Height, 2.73 m
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