Italy will receive seven surplus AAV-7A1 amphibious vehicles from the United States Marine Corps after the approval of a military deal valued at $30.6 million.
The package includes three AAVC-7A1 command variants and four AAVR-7A1 recovery variants, as well as support equipment, camouflage kits, technical documentation and logistics support.
The armored vehicles will be transferred directly from existing US military stocks, with no need to produce new units. The acquisition strengthens Italy’s ability to conduct amphibious operations, allowing troops to land from the sea and expanding the operational readiness of the country’s naval forces at a time of growing NATO attention to expeditionary missions.
In service since the 1970s, the AAV-7A1 remains one of the main amphibious platforms in the West. Capable of operating both in water and on land, the vehicle can carry up to 21 combat-equipped personnel and continues to be used by several countries, including the United States, Brazil, South Korea and Thailand. Its long service life is the result of successive modernization programs carried out over the years.
The purchase of command and recovery versions suggests that Rome is seeking to strengthen specific capabilities within its existing fleet. While command vehicles serve as mobile coordination centers for operations, recovery models provide technical support and assistance in retrieving damaged armored vehicles during amphibious missions. The initiative follows Italy’s strategy of maintaining a robust amphibious force in the Mediterranean, a region considered vital to the country’s defense interests.
Source and images: U.S. Department of State | Wikimedia | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
