Iveco VBA amphibious armored personnel carrier for the Italian Marine Corps
One of the first production VBA armored personnel carriers at the Seafuture 2025 exhibition. Photo: European Defence Review
The Italian Defense Ministry is implementing a program to modernize the Marine Corps' armored vehicle fleet. Several years ago, it selected a new amphibious combat vehicle for future procurement—the VBA wheeled armored personnel carrier. Further trials are scheduled for the coming months, and final decisions will be made based on the results. Barring any complications, the first vehicles of the new type will be delivered to the customer by the end of next year.
Looking for a replacement
Currently, the Italian Marine Corps is represented by a single brigade, the San Marco Brigade. It comprises three regiments with line and support units, a headquarters, and a number of other structures. The total personnel strength does not exceed 3.
The brigade is armed with a variety of armored vehicles, including amphibious ones. However, only the American-built AAVP-7 amphibious transporters can be considered fully-fledged amphibious assault vehicles. According to available data, San Marco currently has only 18 vehicles of this type: 15 armored personnel carriers, two command vehicles, and one repair and recovery vehicle.
The Italian command has long been dissatisfied with the number, age, and performance of AAVP-7 vehicles. Since the mid-2000s, there have been calls for the rearmament of the Marine Corps and the acquisition of new equipment.
A view from a different angle. Photo: European Defence Review
In response to the needs of the armed forces, Iveco Defence Vehicles began developing a promising four-axle wheeled armored vehicle with full amphibious capabilities in 2006. In 2009, it completed the design and presented a prototype called the SUPERAV (Surface Performance Amphibious Vehicle).
In 2012, the SUPERAV armored personnel carrier was modified to meet the needs of the Italian Marine Corps, and this version of the project was designated VBA (Veicolo Blindato Anfibio—Amphibious Armored Vehicle). The Italian Ministry of Defense reviewed the vehicle and praised it highly. However, at that time, it was unable to finance further development or order production vehicles.
By the mid-2010s, all discussions about the possible procurement of new armored vehicles had essentially ground to a halt. Just a few years later, the topic was revived, and the Ministry of Defense was now able to secure the necessary funding. The next few years were spent conducting the necessary testing, continuing to refine the design, and so on.
During the same period, Iveco, together with BAE Systems, participated in a US Marine Corps program. The SUPERAV armored personnel carrier, modified to meet US requirements, was able to outperform its competitors. By the early 2000s, full-scale serial production of this vehicle had begun.
VBA during testing. Photo by Iveco Defense Vehicles
Contract and plans
In early 2022, the Italian Ministry of Defense formulated and unveiled its plans. It intended to sign contracts for the construction and delivery of 64 new VBA armored personnel carriers. These were intended to replace not only the aging AAVP-7 but also other types of vehicles.
The first contract for the new VBA was signed in December 2023. It covered the assembly and delivery of 36 armored vehicles in the amphibious infantry transport version. The cost of the vehicles was not specified. Completion of the contract was expected to take five years.
Shortly after receiving the order, Iveco began production of the vehicles. Assembly of the first two VBAs was completed in mid-2024, after which they were sent for factory testing, conducted under the customer's supervision. In December, the Ministry of Defense and the manufacturer reported their successful completion.
At the end of September 2025, the Seafuture military-technical exhibition, dedicated to the development of naval forces, was held in Italy. At this event, Iveco Defence Vehicles presented the first production VBA-type armored personnel carriers. The company also revealed its plans for the near future.
Water testing. Photo by Iveco Defense Vehicles.
In the first quarter of 2026, the manufacturer will deliver two APCs to the Marine Corps for qualification trials. These trials will take approximately six months, after which the vehicles will be delivered to active units. Field testing of these vehicles will begin no later than the fourth quarter of 2026.
Next year, a second contract for the remaining 28 VBAs will be signed. It is expected to include vehicles of other classes, not armored personnel carriers. The Marine Corps would like to receive vehicles with small-caliber guns, command vehicles, self-propelled mortars, and so on.
A new order may be placed in the near future. The VBA product is currently being evaluated by the ground forces, which plan to acquire several dozen of these vehicles. These vehicles will be assigned to the 1st Lagunari Brigade, a ground force capable of supporting the marines. The necessary operational capabilities will be achieved through the standardization of the armored vehicle fleet.
Technical features
The VBA is a wheeled combat armored vehicle designed for transporting, disembarking, and providing fire support for landing troops. It was developed with the specific requirements of the Marine Corps in mind, which influenced its technical design, component composition, and capabilities.
The APC has a welded hull made of rolled armor with the ability to install external additional modules. In the maximum configuration, the frontal projection can withstand small-caliber rounds. artillery The projectiles, and other parts—rifle bullets. The hull's contours and layout are traditional for vehicles of this class.
U.S. Marine Corps SUPERAV. Photo by BAE Systems.
The overall length of the vehicle reaches 8,75 m, with a width of no more than 3 m and a height (at the roof) of 2,8 m. The combat weight, depending on the configuration, reaches 30-31,5 tons.
The VBA is equipped with a 700-horsepower Iveco Cursor 16 diesel engine. As with some of the company's previous projects, it utilizes a unique H-pattern transmission. A transfer case transmits torque to two side differentials, each of which drives the wheels on its own side. This design improves survivability in the event of breakdowns or damage.
The four-axle chassis features independent hydropneumatic suspension. Both the front and rear axles are steerable. Aft water jets are also included for propulsion on water. The APC reaches a speed of 105 km/h on land and 10 km/h on water. The vehicle's road range is stated at 800 km.
The crew compartment of the hull accommodates up to 13 people, including the driver and gunner. Troops embark and disembark through the rear ramp. While underway, troops are not allowed to use their personal equipment. weapon.
The production VBA APC and its future operators, October 2024. Photo by Iveco Defence Vehicles.
The VBA platform is compatible with various types of combat modules, and the Italian Ministry of Defense plans to take advantage of these capabilities. For example, the Marine Corps' APCs will receive Leonardo Hitrole Light remote-controlled modules with a heavy machine gun. There are also plans to purchase vehicles with a different module and a 30mm Leonardo X-Gun cannon. A self-propelled mortar version has been developed, with the weapon mounted in the troop compartment and firing through a roof hatch.
Real measures
The Italian Ministry of Defense has long considered upgrading the Marine Corps' armored vehicle fleet, but actual action on this front was only taken a few years ago. Less than two years ago, a contract was awarded for the first large batch of new VBA amphibious vehicles, and two production vehicles have already entered testing.
According to current plans, the first two VBA APCs will be delivered to the San Marco Brigade by the end of next year. After that, deliveries are expected to continue, in larger quantities and at an accelerated pace. A total of 64 vehicles are planned for the Marine Corps, as well as dozens of units for the ground forces.
Regardless of the actual delivery timeframe and pace, the planned rearmament will positively impact the potential of the Italian Marine Corps. Clearly, 64 modern armored vehicles will be able to fully replace 17 obsolete vehicles.
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