B1 Centauro The Centauro is a wheeled tank destroyer designed for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance . It was developed by a consortium of manufacturers , the Società Consortile Iveco Fiat - Oto Melara ( CIO ) . Iveco Fiat was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon systems . 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 . The main armament consists of the Oto Melara 105 mm / 52 caliber gyro - stabilized high - pressure , low - recoil gun equipped with a thermal sleeve and an integrated fume extractor , with 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 another 7 . 62 mm anti - aircraft machine gun with 4 , 000 rounds of ammunition . Aiming is provided by Galileo Avionica TURMS fire control system ( the same fitted to the Italian Ariete tank ) and is equipped with a muzzle referencing system and a fully digital ballistic computer . The gunner sight is fully stabilized and comes equipped with a thermal imager and laser rangefinder . The commander ' s station is equipped with a panoramic stabilized sight , an image intensifying night sight and a monitor displaying the image from the gunner ' s thermal sight . This allows Centauro to engage stationary or moving targets while stationary or on the move , in day or night . Armour . The Centauro hull is an all - welded steel armoured hull which is designed to withstand in the baseline configuration 14 . 5 mm bullets and shell fragments with protection against 25 mm munition on the frontal section . Protection can be increased by the addition of bolt on appliqué armour which increases protection against 30 mm rounds . The Centauro is also equipped with an NBC ( Nuclear , Chemical and Biological ) 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 license by Iveco Fiat . The transmission system has five forward and two reverse gears . This drives 8 wheels which are each equipped with an independent suspension system and is furthermore equipped with run - flat inserts and a Central Tyre Inflation System ( CTIS ) . Braking is provided by 8 disc brakes . Steering is provided on the first and second axles and at slow speed with also the fourth axle . Together , this allows Centauro to achieve road speeds in excess of 100 km / h , negotiate gradients up to 60 % , ford water up to a depth of 1 . 5m without preparation , and have a turning radius of 9m . Combat history . Centauro 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 . 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 Nassiriya , destroying a building where snipers were hiding . It is currently deployed as part of UNIFIL forces in Lebanon . Variants . Italian army ordered a prototype of the 120 mm variant , with improved armour . The first trials are expected in 2012 . An early prototype , armed with a 155x39 gun , was seen at the national Italian holiday of 2 June ( 2011 ) . A known AAA and c - ram prototype version , called " Draco " , is armed with a 76 mm automatic cannon , and with Strales directional ammunition system . A 125 mm gun - armed version is being tested by the Russian army , alongside the standard 105 mm - armed version .