The Iveco-Oto Breda VCC-80 Dart, as the abbreviation indicates, was to enter service during the 80 years. However, it began to reach the departments only at the beginning of the 2000 years, due to insufficient economic resources. In fact, the fundamental error - of a political nature - was that of wanting to proceed with the contemporary development, at national level, of demanding vehicles such as the MBT C-1 Aries or the heavy blind B-1 Centaur.
The problem is that even thirty years ago Dart it was not a means to deal with the threats of the battlefields, as it was already one of the least protected Western Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), having the hull made of aluminum with an additional layer of ballistic steel (the presence of 5 hyposcopes further weaken the structure), with a combat weight of only 24.000 kg. The propulsion is ensured by an Iveco engine with 6 turbocharged V-cylinders by 520 Hp, which allows a good power / weight ratio.
The armament consists of a 25 mm double-fueled OBA K2 mini cannon, combined with a 7,62 mm coaxial machine gun, placed in a two-seater welded steel turret.
At the beginning of the 90 years it was decided to reinforce the armament by installing two BGM-71 TOW wire-guided missile launchers on the sides of the turret. The tower took the name of HITFIST (High Technology Fire In Small Turret) and was equipped with very sophisticated systems for the surveillance and conduct of shooting in any condition of visibility, with stabilization of the armament on three axes. Subsequently, due to the usual lack of appropriations, it was decided to adopt vehicles with simplified equipment without the launchers for the TOW (later versions of the Dart equipped with the SPIKE LR anti-tank system).
On balance, we wanted to invest huge resources for the development and acquisition of an already-obsolete IFV and therefore absolutely not able to face the current war theaters, saturated with portable counter-tank systems and IED booby traps. Trying to modernize it would lead to the drainage of additional financial resources, without, however, obtaining a means capable of satisfying the needs of the military. The market offers IFVs capable of guaranteeing very high levels of protection, such as the Puma German being acquired by the Berlin Army. But the costs are very high, and given the meager balance of Defense seems unlikely (if not impossible) the purchase of a new vehicle.
At this point one could revive an idea born in the mid-'90 years, or use a part of the hulls of the wagons Leopard 1, abandoned by the Army (about 900 means), to build infantry fighting vehicles. Following the example of the Israelis - who modified the T-55 of war prey giving life toIDF ACHZARIT (photo on the left), an IFV from 44 tons of weight - we could adapt the hulls of the Leopard for the embarkation of an infantry team, improving the protection with the addition of composite armor and active defense systems, also could be installed a turret, with power supply, armed with a cannon from 30 mm.
In the end there would be a combat vehicle weighing about 40 tons, sufficiently protected and armed but with low costs. Other solutions at the moment are not feasible, unless you want to continue with the Dart and then complete the equipment of future heavy brigades by means lacking real operational capabilities.
(photo: Army / web)
