The VOLPE BIANCA 2025 exercise, which took place in Val Pusteria (northeast Italy) in mid-March, came along with the Arctic Forum Dolomites 2025, held in Dobbiaco (Bolzano).
The Arctic region has been a hot topic in recent years, and the Italian Army is about to decide on its next all terrain vehicle, given that the BV206 fleet of tracked transport vehicles – the oldest of which have been in service for over 40 years – is now due for retirement.
There are two contenders: the BvS10 from BAE Systems Hägglunds and the BRONCO 3 (in the photo), the third generation of the vehicle from ST Engineering from Singapore. The news that emerged during the Arctic Forum Dolomites is that, for the first time, the BRONCO 3 was shown with Leonardo insignia and with the ARIS and ST Engineering stickers.
This represents the ‘team’ formed by the leading defence company in Singapore to penetrate the Italian market. If selected by the Italian Army, Leonardo would be the prime contractor, while ARIS would produce the vehicle under licence from ST Engineering. Leonardo would also be responsible for the special modules, such as command posts, mortar carriers, CASEVAC and others, which would be added to the troop transport module and the standard platform. Replacing the modules is a very simple operation thanks to lifting systems that can be installed on the modules themselves, which avoid the use of external aids and require only a few men for a few tens of minutes. Leonardo would be also responsible for system integration.
According to the information gathered by FW MAG's sister publication RID - Rivista Italian Difesa, the ‘Italianisation’ programme for the BRONCO 3 involves more than 20 SMEs, which together represent a workforce of approximately 2,800.
On display in a static exhibition at the conference venue, the BRONCO 3 was equipped with a Leonardo HITROLE LIGHT remote-controlled turret on each module. The one installed on the front cabin was armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun, while the one on the rear cabin was equipped with a 7.62 mm MG 42/59.
The BRONCO 3 has a ground weight of 16,000 kg, of which 6,000 kg represents the payload. Amphibious, it is powered by a 325 hp engine and is capable of tackling gradients of 60% on solid ground and 30% in fresh snow. From information gathered in Dobbiaco, the choice of the successor to the BV206 should be imminent.
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