The Italian Armed Forces have taken delivery of the first four Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), officially marking the launch of the Army Armoured Combat Systems (A2CS) program.
The handover was carried out by Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV), the joint venture serving as the program’s prime contractor. The delivery follows an initial contract signed in November for 21 Lynx KF41 vehicles, with the program expected to eventually encompass around 1,000 platforms.
The first five vehicles will be equipped with Rheinmetall’s Lance turret, while the remaining 16 will feature Leonardo’s Hitfist 30 mm turret. Over time, the entire fleet is planned to transition to the Hitfist configuration.
The four newly delivered IFVs will now undergo trials and evaluation at the Army’s Multifunctional Testing Center (CEPOLISPE) to assess their operational suitability. Italian officials highlighted that the Lynx’s high level of digitalization and connectivity is expected to significantly reshape how the Army operates in future multi-domain combat environments.
Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger described Lynx as a next-generation combat vehicle that sets new standards in versatility, protection, effectiveness, scalability, and future growth, while also strengthening European defense industrial cooperation.
Alongside the Lynx IFVs, the Italian Army is also procuring KF51 Panther main battle tanks from LRMV as part of a broader effort to modernize its heavy armored fleet. Both the Lynx and Panther platforms are capable of speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour and offer an operational range of approximately 500 kilometers.
