Ariete

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Ariete" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

C1 Ariete
Ariete
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1994–present
Production history
Manufacturer	Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara (CIO), a consortium formed by IVECO and OTO Melara
Produced	1994–2002
No. built	200
Specifications
Mass	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	steel and composite
Main armament	120 mm OTO Breda L/44 smoothbore gun 42 rounds (15 ready-rounds in the turret basket with additional 27 rounds in the hull rack)
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 diesel 25.8 litre 950 kW (1,270 hp)
Power/weight	17.5 kW/t (23.5 hp/t)
Transmission	ZF Friedrichshafen LSG 3000
Suspension	torsion bar
Ground clearance	0.44 m (1.4 ft)
Operational range	600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed	65 km/h (40 mph)

The C1 Ariete (English: battering ram, ram) is a 3rd generation main battle tank of the Italian Army, developed by Consorzio Iveco Oto Melara (CIO), a consortium formed by IVECO and 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 the vehicles travelled a combined 16,000 km. Deliveries were first planned for 1993, and took place in 1994 due to delays. Final delivery occurred 7 years later in August 2002.