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The B2 Centauro (2020) is a wheeled armored vehicle produced by the CIO consortium (Iveco-Oto Melara) under the serial production contract 2114/2020 and the final version of the vehicle accepted into service by the Italian Army.
Development of the B2 Centauro began in 2010, when the Italian General Staff published the ROP (Requisito Operativo Preliminare) for the production of the “Nuova Blindo Centauro” and the following year the related ROD (Requisito Operativo Definitivo), in collaboration between DAT (Direzione Armamenti Terrestri) and industrie.
After the start of the study for the new engine, in November 2011 the contract was signed with the CIO consortium for the construction of the first prototype.
In 2015, the Centauro II was presented by CIO and in 2016 it was officially revealed at Eurosatory.
The two companies of the Consortium, Iveco and Leonardo/Oto-Melara, had separated the project where Iveco had the task of working on the hull and Leonardo worked on the turret.
The hull was improved compared to the B1 to increase crew protection and accommodate the new engine developed by Iveco.
Mine protection (and protection in general) was improved, munitions in 2 rotating magazine (19 ammo) were separated from the crew by anti-blast bulkheads, and blowout panels were added to the ammunition compartment. The new Iveco engine had a power output of 720 hp to compensate for the increased weight of the vehicle.
The new turret developed by Leonardo is the Hitfact MK2, an improved version of the one on the B1 Centauro. A new 120mm L45 cannon was integrated, an automatic reloading system was added (the turret can also be requested without), and a manual rack is present if necessary. 12 rounds of ammunition (6 in the automatic loader and 6 in the manual rack) are separated from the crew and a blow-out panel is present. There is a remote-controlled turret developed by Leonardo (the Hitrole Mod. L) which features a 12.7mm M2HB machine gun (a 7.62mm machine gun and a 40mm grenade launcher are available as options) + a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun next to the cannon. Two new optics developed by Leonardo are present: the gunner’s sight (Lothar SD) and the commander’s sight (Attila D).
From 2016 onwards, a long series of tests was carried out to obtain the first series production of the vehicle under the 1965/2018 production contract (also known as “Configuration 2.0 level A”). Subsequently, another series of tests was carried out to obtain the second series of production under the 2114/2020 contract (also known as “Configuration 3.0”).
Several upgrades were made between the various configurations, and the 2020 version features them all:
- The RWS Hitrole Mod. L turret was moved further to the right on the turret to try to reduce the obstruction it caused to the commander’s sight in the forward arc
Spoiler
Before
After
- A composite armor package has been developed to improve hull and turret protection. The armor has been installed on the front lower hull plates, the upper side hull plates, and the entire hull of the Hitfact MK2. The package is optional and brings the vehicle’s total weight to 32 tons.
Spoiler
Before “Hull”
After “Hull”
Before “Turret”
After “Turret”
- The 8 Galix 80mm smoke grenade launchers were replaced by 16 Rosy grenade launchers (8 on each side) to improve the angle of protection they provided.
Spoiler
Before “Galix 80mm”
After “Rosy 40mm”
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The 4 dishes for the H3 Jammer system were removed to be integrated into the various antennas on the turret
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The 3.0 configuration brings integration for the use of programmed ammunition such as DM11 or M339
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