This July marks a significant milestone in technological excellence, as IDV—one of the world’s leading defence vehicles suppliers—celebrates 88 years of innovation and success. Founded in 1937 in Bolzano under the Lancia Veicoli Industriali brand to produce military trucks, the company became part of Iveco in 1975. Since its beginnings, IDV has steadily evolved into a benchmark in the defence sector, driven by a clear strategic vision and a continuous growth trajectory. Today, IDV is a trusted partner to numerous countries and Armed Forces worldwide, employing 2000 people across six manufacturing facilities and various international sites.
Starting in Bolzano, where it all began 88 years ago with the production of vehicles for the Italian Army, IDV has steadily grown into a key player on the international defence stage, thanks to the development of a broad portfolio of vehicles designed to meet the demands of the most challenging markets and to perform in the world’s most complex operational theatres. The experience gained over the years has enabled IDV to become a centre of excellence in the development of technologies that are at the core of its entire product range, with particular focus on protection, mobility, and the integration of combat systems.
The company has earned a first-rate reputation for excellence in ballistic, anti-mine, and anti-IED protection, as well as in ballistic steel welding and in the design and production of composite armour. This dedication to protection is reflected in the continuous improvement of IDV’s vehicle range, driven by research into increasingly effective and lightweight materials, capable of withstanding the most advanced and unpredictable threats.
Claudio Catalano, CEO of IDV, stated: “IDV holds a unique position in the defence vehicles sector. Our long- standing collaboration with Armed Forces around the world allows us now to be extremely flexible, both in the development and the production of vehicles tailored to meet the most diverse needs of our customers. In addition to being a cornerstone of the Italian defence industry, we have, over the past 88 years, become a strategic partner for many Armed Forces of the main NATO allies as well as the US Marine Corps and the Brazilian Army. We remain committed to investing in safer, more advanced solutions and expanding our production capabilities, while at the same time always staying true to the values that have made us a leader in the defence industry.”
Born from the engineering excellence of Iveco Defence Vehicles, the LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) has become one of the most iconic and representative vehicles of the Italian Army. Known as the “Lince,”
this light armoured vehicle entered serial production in 2003. The LMV was developed in Italy, but it quickly gained international recognition: numerous Armies around the world adopted this outstanding example of Italian engineering, valuing its high levels of protection, mobility, manoeuvrability and versatility. Today there are more than 4500 units in service around the world. Since the early 2000s, the LMV has been deployed in a wide range of operational scenarios, successfully saving numerous lives of Italian and allied soldiers during attacks involving improvised explosive devices. Now in production in its second generation, the LMV offers even greater mobility and protection—enhanced by more than two decades of experience in diverse international theatres.
IDV’s expertise in manufacturing protected 4×4 multirole tactical vehicles has further been solidified with the launch of the MTV (Multirole Tactical Vehicle), a vehicle in service with the Dutch Armed Forces, following the signing of a contract in 2019 to supply 1,185 vehicles in different configurations.
The MTV is designed to combine high 4×4 tactical mobility, optimal off-road performance, exceptional modularity, advanced systems integration capabilities, and a high level of crew protection paired with excellent payload capacity.
The establishment of CIO (the Iveco – Oto Melara Consortium, a joint venture between IDV and Leonardo) in 1985 officially marked IDV’s entry into the field of armoured and protected vehicles.
The first Italian 8×8, the Centauro, was developed in response to a requirement from the Italian Army and quickly became the primary wheeled armoured combat vehicle in service with the national Armed Force. A crown jewel of Italy’s land combat vehicle industry, the Centauro I tank, together with its advanced evolution Centauro II, is equipped with a NATO-standard 105/120 mm gun. It is renowned for its high road mobility, excellent off-road performance, speed, versatility, and adaptability to a wide range of operational scenarios. Through CIO, a comprehensive portfolio of both wheeled and tracked combat vehicles has been developed. Today, the company holds design authority over all major vehicles of the Italian Army, which play a key role in international missions. The Ariete tank, which in its recent evolution takes the name Ariete C2, and the Centauro II armoured vehicle represent the two most recent technological excellences.
Iveco Defence Vehicles’ expertise in armoured and protected vehicles has also led to the development of amphibious armoured platforms. In 2009, IDV signed a contract with the Brazilian Army for the supply of the Guarani, a 6×6 amphibious armoured vehicle developed according to the specific requirements of the Brazilian
Army and entirely manufactured in Brazil. To date, over 700 units are in service with the Brazilian Armed Forces, alongside the LMV and, more recently, the Centauro II armoured vehicle, chosen by the Brazilian Army as part of the international procurement process for at least 98 units to be supplied through CIO.
Building on its expertise in amphibious platforms, 2018 marked IDV’s entry into the United States market with the contract for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV), developed in collaboration with BAE Systems. This milestone represented a significant leap forward for the company, consolidating its position in the global defence sector and demonstrating the reliability and effectiveness of its solutions in complex scenarios. The amphibious platform has also been selected by the Italian Navy as part of its national defence fleet modernisation and expansion programme.
IDV’s product range is completed by its tactical-logistical trucks, vehicles that currently support the transport and deployment capabilities of not only the the Italian Army, but also numerous European Armed Forces, including those of Spain, Romania, France, Germany, Switzerland, and, in the future, following the recent signing of a contract in the Netherlands, the Dutch Army as well. The current range of trucks is remarkably broad, offering a wide array of configurations—from 4×4 to 10×10 platforms—with both protected and unprotected cab options. It is the full synergy and integration of technical and industrial expertise across IDV’s entire vehicle range as well as the seamless complementarity between technologies applied to armoured, multirole, and tactical-logistical vehicles that have enabled the company to achieve its current levels of excellence.
Today, IDV stands as a symbol of continuous innovation. The launch of new divisions, such as the one focused on autonomous vehicle technologies (IDV Robotics), marks a pivotal step in advancing research and development in uncrewed platforms and represents a further commitment to placing cutting-edge technology at the core of soldier protection and operational effectiveness.
“In today’s global geopolitical landscape, the defense sector is at the forefront of investment and market demand. The rapid evolution of operational theatres requires Armed Forces to enhance and reassess their equipment, particularly in the land domain. Recent international tensions have underscored the critical importance of swiftly adopting and integrating new technologies and innovations to ensure the effective deployment of military capabilities. IDV is ready to play its part, combining expertise, cutting-edge technologies, and industrial strength to continue delivering solutions that support a modern defense capability—one that can respond effectively to the shifting demands of global security,” concluded Claudio Catalano.
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