IVECO DEFENCE VEHICLES CELEBRATES 88 YEARS OF OPERATIONS

Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) is marking its 88th anniversary since its establishment in July 1937 in Bolzano, Italy. Today, IDV stands as a trusted partner for numerous nations and armed forces globally.

Founded in 1937 as Lancia Veicoli Industriali in Bolzano for the production of military trucks, IDV became part of Iveco in 1975. It has since grown to become a leading name in the defense sector. In 1985, the CIO (Consorzio Iveco - Oto Melara) was formed – an equal partnership between IDV and Leonardo – which officially marked IDV's entry into the armored and protected vehicle domain. A significant strength of IDV lies in its extensive vehicle range, which includes everything from 4x4 models to 10x10 vehicles, with or without cabins, as well as tactical-logistic trucks.

One of the Italian Army's most iconic and representative vehicles emerged from Iveco Defence Vehicles' engineering excellence: the legendary LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle), known as the Lince. Serial production began in 2003, and to date, over 4,500 units are in service worldwide.

IDV's expertise in manufacturing protected 4x4 multirole vehicles was further solidified with the development of the MTV (Multirole Tactical Vehicle). This vehicle is now in service with the Dutch Armed Forces, following a 2019 contract for the supply of 1,185 units in various configurations.

The Centauro armored vehicle is the progenitor of Italy's 8x8 platforms. Developed to meet an Italian Army requirement, it quickly became the primary wheeled combat vehicle in service with the national armed forces.

The Centauro I tank, along with its evolution the Centauro II, as well as the Ariete tank and its Ariete C2 upgrade, represent the pinnacle of Italian industry in the field of land combat vehicles. Furthermore, IDV's experience with armored and protected vehicles has been instrumental in the creation of its amphibious armored platforms. Notably, in 2009, IDV signed a contract with the Brazilian Army for the supply of the Guarani, a 6x6 amphibious armored vehicle. This vehicle was developed based on specific Brazilian Army requirements and entirely built in Brazil, with over 700 units produced. On the amphibious front, 2018 marked IDV's entry into the United States market with the contract for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).

Today, IDV continues to expand, as evidenced by the opening of new divisions, such as IDV ROBOTICS, dedicated to autonomous vehicles. This represents a crucial step in accelerating the research and development of unmanned vehicles and further positions technology at the forefront of soldier safety.