Ariete

C1 Ariete
Ariete
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1995–present
Production history
Produced	1995–2002
Specifications
Weight	54 t (53 long tons; 60 short tons)
Length	9.52 m (31.2 ft)
Width	3.61 m (11.8 ft)
Height	2.45 m (8.0 ft)
Crew	4
Armor	Classified, laminated steel/composite
Main armament	120 mm L44 smoothbore gun 42 rounds (15 rounds inside turret magazine with additional 27 rounds in the hull)
Secondary armament	7.62 mm MG 42/59 coaxial machine-gun, 7.62 mm MG 42/59 AA machine-gun 2,500 rounds
Engine	Fiat MTCA 12V 950 kW (1,270 hp)
Power/weight	22 kW/t (29 hp/t)
Suspension	Torsion-bar
Ground clearance	0.44 m (1.4 ft)
Operational range	600 km (370 mi)
Speed	70 km/h (43 mph)

The C1 Ariete is the main battle tank of the Italian Army, developed by a consortium formed by Iveco-Fiat and Oto Melara (CIO, Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara). The chassis and engine were produced by Iveco, while the turret and fire-control system were supplied by Oto Melara. The vehicle carries the latest optical and digital-imaging and fire-control systems, enabling it to fight day and night and to fire on the move. Six prototypes were developed by 1988, which were subject to intensive testing the following year during which the vehicles travelled a combined 16,000 km. Deliveries were first planned for 1993, but in fact took place in 1995 due to delays. Final delivery occurred 8 years later in August 2002.

The tank has a conventional layout similar to other Western MBTs: a driver located at the front of the hull, the fighting compartment—towards the middle—and the engine compartment in the rear of the hull.

The Ariete's main armament is a local version of the smoothbore Rheinmetall 120 mm gun, produced by Oto Melara, autofrettaged and stress-hardened to increase durability over extended periods of firing, allowing the use of APFSDS-T and HEAT ammunition. The gun is also adapted to fire most NATO-standard rounds of the same calibre. It carries 42 rounds, 27 of which are stored in a special magazine inside the hull, to the left of the driver's station. The remaining ammunition is stored in the rear turret bustle, separated from the crew compartment with an armoured door. The gun barrel has a thermal insulating sleeve and a fume extractor; it is fully stabilized in both azimuth and elevation by an electro-hydraulic drive system.

Secondary armament consists of a 7.62 mm MG 42/59 coaxial machine gun operated by the tank gunner or commander and an additional 7.62 mm MG 42/59 configured as an anti-aircraft weapon operated by the main-gun loader from his hatch.