CIO Ariete Main Battle Tank
Channel: Main Battle Tank
Date: 2023-04-10

In 1984, the Italian concerns of OTO Melara and Iveco-FIAT came together to form CIO - "Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara". The goal of the parties was to develop three different modern battlefield systems sharing the maximum amount of automotive components to reduce cost and logistical support for the Italian Army in the long term. The result became the Dardo Infantry Fighting Vehicle, the Centauro 8x8 wheeled tank destroyer and the Ariete ("Battering Ram") Main Battle Tank. Sharing duties, OTO Melara served as the prime contractor overseeing design and engineering while supplying various components and Iveco-FIAT was charged with developing and manufacturing the required powerpack and related systems.