Centauro (Tank destroyer)

Centauro
An Italian Army Centauro during a patrol in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of IFOR in 1996
TypeWheeled tank destroyer
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1991 - present
Used bySee Operators
WarsUnited Nations Operation in Somalia II
Implementation Force
Kosovo Force
Iraq War
UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon)
Russo-Ukrainian war
Production history
Designed1986
ManufacturerIveco Fiat (hull, propulsion)
Oto Melara (weapons, turrets)
Unit cost€1.6 million [citation needed]
ProducedCentauro: 1991–2006
Centauro 2: 2021–present
No. built490+ (plus 249 Freccia)
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
MassCentauro 1: 24 t (24 long tons; 26 short tons)
Centauro 2: 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons)
LengthCentauro 1: 7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
Centauro 2: 8.26 m (27 ft 1 in)
WidthCentauro 1: 2.94 m (9 ft 8 in)
Centauro 2: 3.12 m (10 ft 3 in)
HeightCentauro 1: 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
Centauro 2: 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Crew4 (commander, gunner, loader and driver)
ArmorWelded steel armoured hull
Main
armament
Centauro 1: Oto Melara 105 mm/52 (rifled)
Centauro 2: Oto Melara 120mm L/45 LRF (smoothbore)
Secondary
armament
Centauro 1:

Centauro 2:

EngineCentauro 1: Iveco VTCA V6, turbo-diesel engine (520 hp (390 kW))
Centauro 2: Iveco Vector 8V V8 engine (704 hp (525 kW))
Payload capacity350 kg (770 lb)
TransmissionHydropneumatic automatic transmission with 5 forward and 2 reverse gears
8×8 wheels
Suspensionindependent MacPherson struts
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi)
Maximum speed108 km/h (67 mph)

The Centauro is a family of Italian military vehicles originating from a wheeled tank destroyer for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance. It was developed by the Società Consortile Iveco Fiat – OTO Melara (CIO), a consortium of manufacturers, with Iveco Fiat tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems, while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon systems. The Centauro platform has been developed into multiple variants to fulfill other combat roles, such as infantry fighting vehicle or self-propelled howitzer.

Description

The vehicle was developed in response to an Italian Army requirement for a tank destroyer with the firepower of the old Leopard 1 main battle tank then in service with the Italian Army, but with greater strategic mobility. The main mission of the Centauro is to protect other, lighter, elements of the cavalry, using its good power-to-weight ratio, excellent range and cross country ability (despite the wheeled design) and computerized fire control system to accomplish this mission. Centauro entered production in 1991 and deliveries were complete by 2006.

Armament

An early variant of the vehicle

The main armament consists of the Oto Melara 105 mm L/52 calibre gyro-stabilized high-pressure, low-recoil gun equipped with a thermal sleeve and an integrated fume extractor, with 40 rounds: 14 ready rounds in the turret and another 26 rounds in the hull. The gun can fire standard NATO ammunition, including APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) rounds.

Secondary weapons are a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, and a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun with 4,000 rounds of ammunition.

Aiming is provided by a Galileo Avionica TURMS fire control system (the same as fitted to the Italian Ariete tank), a muzzle referencing system, and a fully digital ballistic computer. The gunner's sight is fully stabilised and includes a thermal imager and laser rangefinder. The commander's station has a panoramic stabilised sight, an image-intensifying night sight, and a monitor displaying the image from the gunner's thermal sight. This allows Centauro, day or night, to engage stationary or moving targets while stationary or on the move.

Armour

The Centauro hull is an all-welded steel armoured hull, which in the baseline configuration is designed to withstand 14.5 mm bullets and shell fragments, with protection against 25 mm projectiles on the frontal section. The addition of bolt-on appliqué armour increases protection against 30 mm rounds.

The Centauro is also equipped with an CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) warfare protection system, which is integrated with the vehicle's air conditioning system. The vehicle is also equipped with a four-barreled smoke grenade launcher mounted on each side of the turret and a laser warning receiver.

Propulsion

Centauro is powered by an Iveco V6 turbo-charged after-cooled diesel engine delivering 520 hp (382.4 kW). This drives a ZF-designed automatic transmission, which is manufactured under licence by Iveco Fiat. The transmission system has five forward and two reverse gears. This drives eight wheels, each equipped with an independent suspension system, run-flat inserts, and a Central Tyre Inflation System (CTIS). Braking is provided by eight disc brakes. Steering is provided on the first and second axles and at slow speed also with the fourth axle. The Centauro achieves road speeds above 100 km/h (62 mph); it can negotiate gradients up to 60%, ford water up to a depth of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) without preparation, and turn with a 9 m (29 ft 6 in) radius.

Combat history

Regiment "Lancieri di Montebello" (8th) Centauro firing during an exercise

The Centauro is currently deployed as part of UNIFIL forces in Lebanon.

It was deployed in the former Yugoslavia and Somalia, where the design proved successful. Centauro was usually employed to escort motor convoys, for wide area control, and for road patrols. While on convoy duty at Somalia, a platoon of eight Centauros engaged hostile positions during the battle of checkpoint Pasta, on 2 July 1993.

Centauros were also deployed during operation Antica Babilonia, the Italian involvement in the Iraq War. During this operation, a Centauro troop took part in the battle for the bridges of Nasiriyah on 6 April 2004, destroying a building where snipers were hiding.

In 2003, Spain deployed six 105/52 mm Centauros to Iraq for their troops' self defence.

Several Centauros were donated to Ukraine by Italy in 2025 to fight in the Russo-Ukrainian War. These were often used to carry out long-range strikes with distances such as 11,100 meters being reported. The vehicle was praised for high accuracy and as well clear internal communications compared to Soviet tanks but due to drone saturated battlefields their use was largely limited to long distance fire support.

Variants

Anti-tank

Regiment "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" (15th) Centauro 2 during an exercise in 2024
The baseline and original version, also called Centauro Reconnaissance Anti-Tank.
Upgraded Centauro with a low recoil 120 mm L/45 cannon (unrelated to the Rheinmetall L/44 120mm) in a newly designed turret and with new composite armour that can resist rounds up to 40 mm APFSDS on the front and 14.5 mm on the rest of the body. This vehicle was also used as a testbed for various technologies that would be used in the B1 Centauro's successor vehicle, the Centauro 2.
In July 2018, the Italian Army signed a €159 million (US$186 million) contract to acquire 10 Centauro 2 tank destroyers, the first tranche of a planned 150-vehicle order. The 30-ton Centauro 2 is based on the Freccia chassis with a three-man turret, an improved 120 mm L/45 (STANAG 4385 munition) or 105 mm L/52 (STANAG 4458) gun and an optional RWS in the form of the HITROLE Mod.L (Alternative: pintle mounted 7.62mm or 12.7mm MG). Additional improvements include a digital communication system, a 720 hp (533kW) engine delivering 24 hp/ton, and wheels extending farther out from the hull for greater stability and better protection against mine blasts. This is paired with a new Hydro-pneumatic suspension for greater situational adaptability.
Owing to the combination of its eight-wheeled configuration and revised chassis, the Centauro 2 can handle the high recoil of a high-velocity 120 mm cannon, while equivalent vehicles with fewer wheels or weaker chassis are often limited to main armament with lower velocity and/or lower calibre. The gun is fitted with an efficient muzzle brake.

Other roles

The Veicolo Blindato Medio "Freccia" (lit. 'Medium Armoured Vehicle "Arrow"') is a Centauro reconfigured as a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle with multiple variants, such as command & control or mortar carrier, offering increased armour and NBC protection. It can transport up to eight infantrymen plus three crew.
Centauro 155/39LW.
This addition to the Centauro range in late 2013 fills the role of self-propelled howitzer, and is able to fire
up to 8 rounds/minute to a distance exceeding 60 km for guided ammunition. It mounts an ultra light 155 mm/39 main gun,
based on the latest material breakthroughs,
and a secondary 7.62 or 12.7 mm MG. The 155/39 is manned by a crew of two and provides full NBC and ballistic protection.
Serves both as an engineer vehicle and for recovery and repair of damaged armoured vehicles on the battlefield.
Centauro Draco.
The Draco was never completed, and remained as an unfinished prototype. The only functional part of the Draco was the hull itself which was that of a B1 Centauro; the actual weapon system reached the mock-up stage and was not completed. The Draco was to be armed with a revolver-type ammunition-loading system. It was to use all standard 76 mm ammunition, guided DART ammunition, C-RAM and top-attack ammunition, and was to be fully compatible with all in-service 76 mm rounds.
The rate of fire was to be 80–100 rounds per minute (depending on the elevation angle), the ammunition revolver
containing 12 indexed rounds and being able to shift from one type of ammunition to another.

Operators

Map of B1 Centauro operators in blue

Current operators

Primary operators

Italy (259)
Centauro B1 (< 259):
Orders: Total production for the Italian Army was for 400 Centauro B1
  • Batch 1: 100 (no spaced armour, 20 of which later received add-on armour ROMOR-A)
  • Batch 2: 150 (15 mm additional armour on the hull / turret)
  • Batch 3: 150 (add-on armour + lengthened by 22 cm, enabling to have two more ammunition racks or to remove it and to transport four infantry soldiers)
Retirement:
  • 141 were later exported to Jordan.
Centauro 2 (150): 150 have been ordered in several stages, with the last order taking place in June 2024.
  • 10 ordered in July 2018
  • 86 ordered in December 2020 with 10 as an option
  • 16 ordered in June 2022 with confirmation of the option of 10
  • 28 ordered in June 2024
Brazil (7 on order; 2 delivered; requirement for 98; option of 221)
Centauro 2BR
  • The Brazilian Army has a total requirement for 98 Centauro 2. In November 2022, the estimated value of the potential contract was USD 1 billion. A complementary order for 123 additional vehicles (221 in total) is planned to be signed few years prior to the completion of the initial contract. The follow-on contract was estimated at $1.1 billion. The production will be started in Italy, and eventually, it will be produced in Sete Lagoas by Iveco's Brazilian branch, together with the related 6×6 VBTP-MR Guarani.
  • The 2 first vehicles were delivered to La Spezia in Italy during 2023. The vehicles were delivered for evaluation by the Brazilian Army under Phase I of the programme. Transit issues delayed their arrival in Brazil, with the first vehicle arriving in Brazil on 17 August 2024, and the second on 2 September 2024.
  • On 31 August 2026, Brazil ordered 7 Centauro 2BR under Phase II of the programme, representing a significant delay from the originally planned signing date in December 2024. The first vehicle is expected to be delivered in 2028.
Oman (9)
Centauro B1
9 Centauro B1 ordered in 2003 for the Royal Guard of Oman. The variant selected is a modified variant with 120 mm gun.
Spain (88)
Centauro B1
Purchases:
  • Centauro B1 (VRCC-105):
    • Phase 1: 22 ordered in 1999, delivered in 2000-01 (made in Italy)
    • Phase 2: 62 ordered in 2002, delivered in 2004-06 (made in Spain)
  • Centauro VBM Recovery:
    • Phase 3: 4 ordered in 2010.

Second-hand operators

Italy donated some Centauro to support the defence of other nations.

Jordan (141)
141 Centauro B1 (all ex-Italian Army), modernised with upgrade kits.
Ukraine
First reports of the Centauro B1 transferred to Ukraine appeared in November 2025, likely donated as military aid. On 9 November 2025, the 78th Airborne Assault Regiment of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces confirmed these rumors, by publishing an official video showcasing the Ukrainian paratroopers using a B1 Centauro in an unknown sector of the frontlines. While the total number of the Centauro gifted to Ukraine is yet unknown, footage published by the 78th regiment shows B1 armored cars with serial numbers going up to 015.

Evaluation-only operators

Russia
In 2012, the Russian Army tested the Freccia fitted with a 30 mm turret and the Centauro in 3 variants, equipped with the 105 mm canon on the Centauro B1, one fitted with a Russian 125 mm tank gun, and another one with a NATO 120 mm tank gun with the HITFACT 120mm turret. They were returned to Italy after tests were complete.
A discussion for up to 2,500 vehicles was mentioned. Following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, sanctions were imposed on Russia, and all cooperation on armament was cancelled.
United States
Leased 16 Centauro between 2000 and 2002 for evaluation, and to gain experience for the introduction of the M1128 mobile gun system. The vehicles were tested with the 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis over a period of two years, and were subsequently returned to Italy in 2002.

References

  1. ↑ Kowak (16 October 2015). "Centauro e Varianti". Militarypedia (in Italian). Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "VBM Freccia Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Italy". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Centauro 2". Archived from the original on 1 September 2026.
  4. 1 2 "CENTAURO I". www.iveco-otomelara.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "B1 Centauro". Tank Encyclopedia. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Centauro B1 - Tank destroyer". Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  7. ↑ "CIO Centauro 8×8 Tank Destroyer". Military Factory. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "B1 Centauro tank destroyer / VBC 8×8 APC".
  9. ↑ Vilona, Leonardo (17 August 2020). "Checkpoint Pasta: La battaglia del pastificio (1993)". History Facts (in Italian). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "il col. Scollo e la battaglia dei ponti a Nassirya (2004) - MILES - Rivista Militare". 11 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "España refuerza su despliegue en Iraq con seis blindados con cañones de gran calibre". Belt Iberica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  12. ↑ "Ukraine Fields Italy's Centauro B1 8×8 Fire Support Combat Vehicle".
  13. ↑ Loh, Matthew. "A Ukrainian crew said its Italian tank gun hit a house that was 120 football fields away". Business Insider. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Rare Footage of Italy's B1 Centauro Tank in Ukraine Shows Record 11 km Strike, Battlefield Experience | Defense Express". en.defence-ua.com. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "Centauro 2 MGS 120/105".
  16. ↑ "Centauro with 120 mm Gun - Fire support vehicle". Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Centauro II". www.idvgroup.com. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025. {{cite web}}: External link in |author-link= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ Italy buys new tank — and it's got much more going for it than its predecessor. Defense News. 26 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Centauro 2 - 120 mm fire support vehicle". Archived from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  20. ↑ "Centauro VBM". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "Self-Propelled Wheeled Howitzer Centauro 155/39LW" (PDF). otomelara.it. Oto Melara. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Artillery on wheels". armada.ch. Armada International. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Centauro 155 39LW". otomelara.it. Oto Melara. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  24. ↑ "Centauro VBM Recovery". Deagel.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Giusti, Arturo (30 December 2020). "B1 Centauro". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  26. 1 2 "Altre 16 blindo Centauro 2 per l'Esercito Italiano – Analisi Difesa" [Another 16 Centauro 2 armor for the Italian Army] (in Italian). 22 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  27. ↑ "Firmato il contratto per le prime 10 Centauro 2 dell'Esercito Italiano – Analisi Difesa" (in Italian). 22 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  28. ↑ "Altri 86 blindo Centauro 2 (più 10 in opzione) per l'Esercito Italiano – Analisi Difesa" (in Italian). 22 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  29. ↑ "The Iveco – Oto Melara Consortium signs the contract for the supply of 28 Centauro 2 completing the Italian Army's 150 unit requirement". edr magazine. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  30. 1 2 Higuera, José (1 December 2022). "Brazilian Army chooses Italian armored vehicle Centauro 2". Defense News. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  31. ↑ Defesa, Redação Forças de (7 December 2022). "Nota do Exército Brasileiro sobre a aquisição da viatura Centauro 2". Forças Terrestres - Exércitos, Indústria de Defesa e Segurança, Geopolítica e Geoestratégia (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  32. ↑ Giovanni (6 February 2023). "Brazil Takes Delivery of First Two Centauro 2 Wheeled Tank Destroyers". Defense aerospace. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  33. 1 2 3 Ribas, Gabriel (2 September 2026). "Brazil signs long-anticipated Centauro IIBR contract following a 20-month delay". Warsight. Archived from the original on 8 September 2026. Retrieved 24 September 2026.
  34. 1 2 "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  35. ↑ Defensa.com (12 February 2019). "Los desconocidos VCREC Centauro del Ejército de Tierra español -noticia defensa.com - Noticias Defensa España". Defensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  36. ↑ "Italy reportedly sending B1 Centauros to Ukraine". Defence Blog – Military and Defense News. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  37. ↑ "First images emerge of the Centauro B1 combat vehicle modified by Ukraine". Zona Militar. 10 November 2025.
  38. ↑ "Ucraina, il cacciacarri italiano Centauro B1 schierato al fronte: così può cambiare la guerra". www.ilmessaggero.it (in Italian). 2 November 2025.
  39. ↑ Di Feo, Gianluca (1 November 2025). "Ucraina, le blindo italiane centauro al fronte". la Repubblica (in Italian).
  40. ↑ Fretay, Halna du. "Ukraine's Armed Forces released first visual confirmation of Italian Centauro B1 armored vehicles". www.armyrecognition.com.
  41. ↑ Bishnoi, Arun (10 November 2025). "Ukraine Receives Italian Centauro B1 Armored Vehicles". Overt Defense.
  42. ↑ "Ukraine receives Italian Centauro tank destroyers". Defence Blog – Military and Defense News. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  43. ↑ admin (15 May 2012). "Russia Army testing Italian Centauro tank". Army Technology. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  44. ↑ "Sanctions adopted following Russia's military aggression against Ukraine". finance.ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  45. ↑ "Centauro B1". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2011.