Died 2011
Born 2025
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Again, the article is in italian and, to sum it up, finally the CIO OTOMelara delivered the first production version of the C-2 Ariete after years of waiting.
The first vehicle, featured in the presentation, is in its “naked” state, but, by the end of the month, we should get additional informations about what this first variant is supposed to equip.
The only certain thing is that this first batch will still have the 120/45 cannon as the new 120/55 is still under test.
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I’m surprised their not going with a 130mm, 140mm or their own 127mm. Seems like the Challenger 3 all over again. Upgrading a tank that is 40 years out of date to the standards of a tank that is 20 years out of date.
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120mm is very much the standard for all NATO MBTs. The C2 upgrade is meant to extend the lifespan of these vehicles without costing too much. The objective was to both restart our industry in this sector and to show that we’re able to work (alongside what’s being done for IMBT) for a potential future with MGCS (of which we’ve already made mentions in our DPP document).
130mm is something that we left open for IMBT in the future, probably starting off with 120mm and then, if the trend goes towards 130mm, upgrade it.
The only issue about this upgrade is that it’s late, but much better later than never since we do need to somehow equip the tank regiments with something before MGCS kicks in.
By “120mm is very much the standard” I mean that at the moment the only cases in which you see more than 120mm is prototypes or technical demonstrators (not all of them). Therefore, 120mm is the standard.
I won’t even comment on 140mm, just LMAO.
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