Iveco SUPERAV (Hitfist 30 UL)

Brix2004 · July 31, 2026, 10:57pm

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The vehicle’s history began in 2006, when Iveco began a program to create a new 8x8 amphibious vehicle. Among the vehicle’s requirements during the testing phase were the ability to operate at sea up to Force 3 (Beaufort scale), maintain excellent mobility on land, and be airlifted on an AC-130.
After a series of tests, the first prototype was unveiled in 2009 under the name “SUPERAV” (SUrface PERformance Armored Vehicle).

The first prototype of the vehicle did not include a turret (the OWS was only mounted in 2012 and included a 30mm Bushmaster cannon and a twin Spike missile launcher), most of the components were derived from vehicles such as the Centauro or the Freccia except for the engine, a new development by Iveco, the 6-cylinder Iveco Cursor 13 capable of producing 560 hp and the ZF 7HP902 transmission later also used for the Centauro 2. The vehicle also features 3-axle steering like its Iveco “cousins” capable of turning within a 9-meter radius. The vehicle is capable of reaching 105 km/h on the road and 10 km/h at sea. This version of the vehicle (including the 2012 OWS) had an empty weight of 15t and a maximum weight of 24t for sea operations and 25t for land operations and capable of carrying 13 people (including 3 crew members).

In June 2018, Iveco, together with BAE Systems, won the tender for the U.S. Marine Corps’ new amphibious combat vehicle (ACV). By the end of 2019, the first 30 ACVs were delivered, where the U.S. Marines conducted extensive trials and tests, implementing several modifications to the vehicle. At the end of 2020, the first production vehicles with the modifications were delivered. The modifications include:
A Kongsberg RT-20 turret; the engine was upgraded from a 560 hp Iveco Cursor 13 to a 700 hp Iveco Cursor 16 (The speed in the water increased from 10 km/h to 11.1 km/h); the transmission was changed to an Allison 4800 SP; the hull was lengthened to accommodate 16 people (including three crew members). This caused the weight of the vehicle to fluctuate, from 24/25t maximum to a maximum of 31.5t for both versions (land and sea).

Iveco therefore decided to make many of the same modifications to its own SUPERAV, including a lengthened hull, an improved engine, and a new transmission. In 2022, Iveco presented the vehicle to the Italian Armed Forces, and it was officially approved. At Eurosatory 2024, the SUPERAV made its debut with all the necessary modifications adopted from the ACV, but this time with a different turret.

In early 2020, Leonardo was developing a new ultralight turret to be mounted on all vehicles with stringent weight limits (such as amphibious vehicles). In 2023, Leonardo showed the public the first rendering of the turret, and at Eurosatory 2024, the first prototype mounted on a SUPERAV.
The turret is unmanned and uses a new 30mm cannon developed by Leonardo, the so-called “X-GUN”. This new ITAR-free cannon has a rate of fire of 200 rpm and is capable of using airburst ammunition. The turret holds 200 rounds of ammunition that can be fired before reloading. A coaxial 7.62mm machine gun is located above the barrel of the 30mm gun, as on the old OWS. 12 40mm smoke launchers are located on the front of the turret. The optics are the Janus D-L sight also found on the Freccia, this time as both the commander’s and gunner’s sights (with III Generation thermal sights).

At Erosatory 2026 the Hitfist 30 UL was also seen mounted on a new unmanned vehicle from Iveco, the CL2X

Specifications