Beautiful! Italy will become Leopard 2A8 Nation.

Italy is planning to purchase 133 new Leopard tanks from German production and upgrade 125 outdated Ariete tanks. Announcing the plan in the Italian Parliament, Undersecretary Isabella Rauti said Italy aims to acquire the Leopard 2 A8 battle tank – shown above at IDET 2023 – and the upgraded Arietes to achieve a "radical and significant" improvement in its land combat capabilities, as the Ukraine conflict is making tanks "fundamental" for warfare again.

Rauti did not specify the number of Leopard tanks to be procured, but a source familiar with the plan said that 133 of the tanks built by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann would be needed (Note: rumors talk of up to 200 vehicles). Four billion euros would cover this acquisition between 2024 and 2037, with additional funds allocated for other Leopard variants, according to an anonymous source.

The upgrading of 125 Arietes would cost around 900 million euros and extend their lifespan until 2034, the source added. In her speech to the Italian Lower House Defense Committee, Rauti stated that the purchase of Leopard tanks would not exclude Italy's participation in the planned German-French MGCS initiative (Main Ground Combat System).

The acquisition of the German tank would help Italy to collaborate more closely with the German industry and facilitate Italian involvement in the MGCS program, she added. Italy also hopes to replace its outdated Dardo infantry fighting vehicles, for which the German company RHEINMETALL is offering its Lynx KF41 as a combat vehicle.