Italy updates tank fleet with 380 KF51 Panther acquisition
The Italian defence minister has announced plans to acquire 380 KF51 Panther tanks, eventually replacing the currently used C1/C2 Ariete. Here, we present the performance details of this heavily promoted, future-oriented armoured vehicle from Germany.
According to the Defence Industry Europe portal, on January 16, at the IAV 2025 conference, the Italian defence minister unveiled plans to acquire up to 380 KF51 Panther tanks. Based on the KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle chassis, these will complement over a thousand vehicles. The program is estimated to be worth over 10 billion euros, and the new tanks will eventually replace the C1/C2 Ariete.
This move is part of Italy's ongoing modernization program. Initially, plans were made to purchase Leopard 2A8 tanks. However, the plan was shelved because the Italian arms industry could not reach an agreement with the German consortium KNDS. It appears that Rheinmetall ultimately offered Italy a more favourable deal.
Current estimates suggest that the joint venture Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV), established in October 2024, will produce up to 60% of its vehicles in Italy, specifically at the factories in La Spezia.
KF51 Panther — a ready tank project of the future from Europe
The KF51 Panther is a modern tank that evolves the legendary Leopard 2 concept. It is lighter than the Leopard 2 but equipped with a more powerful cannon and an advanced situational awareness system.
The recently presented version of the KF51 Panther weighs approximately 59 metric tonnes. Its design has been optimized for rail transportation, adhering to the AMovP-4L tunnel standard. Despite being lighter than the latest Leopard 2 models, which weigh about 70 metric tonnes, the KF51's protection level is expected to be similar or even superior. It will also include a mandatory active protection system.
It's important to note that designing from scratch is often more straightforward than adapting existing structures, such as a tank turret. In older designs, every additional kilogram in the form of armour or new systems necessitates a counterbalance, which is not required when creating a design from scratch.
The current version of the KF51 Panther was presented with a manned turret, although a KF51U variant with an unmanned turret was also showcased. It has a new 130 mm Rh-130 cannon, which delivers 50% more kinetic energy than the current 120 mm Rh-120 guns. The energy generated by the new cannon ranges from 15-20 MJ, which is expected to ensure the destruction of any existing tank, including the Russian T-14 Armata.
The tank crew consists of three soldiers, made possible by an automatic loader. Optionally, a fourth crew member can be added to operate unmanned systems, such as Hero-120 loitering munitions capable of conducting reconnaissance missions or attacking targets up to 60 kilometres away. Overall, it offers a much improved platform compared to the Leopard 2A8 for countries that need a new platform promptly.
