Italian army to extend Dardo IFV service life.

Last August 23, Ciro Nappi tweeted that the Italian army intends to extend the operational life of 135 Dardo IFVs to keep heavy capability until the next generation IFV enters service in 2026. Upgrade areas will be a more powerful engine, new optics and enhanced protection.
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Dardo IFV (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Dardo is a tracked IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) jointly developed by the Italian companies Oto Melara and IVECO under the program named VCC-80. In May 2002, the first of 200 Dardo IFVs was formally handed over to the Italian Army at Oto Melara's La Spezia facility. This vehicle was delivered to the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment, part of the Garibaldi Brigade.

The troops' compartment can accommodate six infantrymen.. Over the frontal arc, the vehicle is protected against 25mm APDS projectiles. The side armor protects against 14.5mm API projectiles.

The turret of the Dardo is armed with an Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm KBA dual-feed cannon. A 7.62mm MG 42/59 machine is mounted coaxially on the left of the gun. Mounted on either side of the turret is a Raytheon TOW ATGW (Anti-Tank Guided Missile). This missile can destroy targets at a maximum firing range of 3,750 m. A bank of four 80 mm electrically-operated smoke grenade launchers is mounted on either side of the turret, firing forwards.

In November 2021, a first image was published on the Internet by the Italian Defense magazine "Rivista Italiana Difesa" showing a drawing of a design concept for the next generation of tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) for the Italian Armoured Infantry Combat System (AICS) program, the Dardo's succesor.

Drawing of the design concept of future tracked armored IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle for the Italian Armoured Infantry Combat System AICS program. (Picture source: Rivista Italiana Difesa)