What is Italy’s A2CS programme?

With the delivery of the first four Lynx KF41 IFVs, Italy has officially launched its A2CS programme which will overhaul and modernise the country’s armoured forces. The programme is more than a procurement effort, however, it will renew and revise the way the Italian Army fights.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on January 30, 2026. 

BLUF: 

• Italy’s Army Armoured Combat Systems (A2CS) is kicking off with the delivery of 21 Lynx IFVs from Rheinmetall’s existing production line. 
• They will be used for experimentation and concept development as the Italian Army refines its future CONOPS. 

A2CS stands for Army Armoured Combat Systems, and it is the Italian Army’s structured response to modernising and renewing its armoured forces. It is “not merely platform acquisition, but a comprehensive vision. A system of systems, designed for interoperability, scalability, and adaptability from inception,” a senior representative of the Italian Army told attendees at the IQPC 2026 International Armoured Vehicles conference. 

He added that the concept is designed to treat armoured vehicles as a node within a system and bake multi-domain integration into the design. Why does this matter? Well, Italy recently took delivery of the first elements of the A2CS programme. 

On January 27 the Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV) Joint Venture delivered the first four of 21 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles to the Italian Army declaring the official launch of the A2CS programme. This delivery came about quickly, with the order placed in November 2025 and deliberately for 21 vehicles from Rheinmetall’s existing production line.

This is to help the Italian Army work on the concept development, the speaker explained, adding that the goal is to “reduce the gap between concept and design, and real employment. We do not wait for the perfect system to begin preparing, but build competencies today.” 

He added that the A2CS concept was still undergoing a review, including the procurement mechanisms and refining the government’s relationship with industry. The plan is to start with a “solid initial base,” and gradually grow the capability from there. The total Lynx procurement is expected to total 1,050 vehicles in 16 different variants. This will include iterations of the initial Lynx vehicles that feed into the design of subsequent tranches, as well as the KF51 tanks that the country has expressed an interest in buying. 

On the timeline for the tank, he said the following: “We have set the requirements and are awaiting an offer from industry. All proposals are still open so it’s not a done deal. That means that while we will try to speed up, there is a gap for the time being. That will be filled with Centauro 2.” This could mean that an alternative to the Rheinmetall tank is eventually selected, if the officer’s speech has been correctly understood. 

What does a “system of systems” mean for the A2CS?

Like most speakers at recent events, the representative drew extensively from Ukraine, painting an image of a future battlefield dominated by sensors and transparency, as well as dispersion. But maintained that land platforms still have a role, “without a solid integrated land capability, advanced capabilities may lose decisiveness in a moment.” 

So, in that context, he explained that land platforms “are no longer isolated, but connected and integrated sensors allow them to function as a node within a system of systems. The value of a platform rests on its ability to operate as a node within a network. These sensors and effects all contribute to overall combat effectiveness.” He went on to clarify that the Italian Army wants: 

• A system capable of generating information and decision advantage.
• Comprehensive protection both physical and cyber are necessary. 
• Mobility is no longer about moving across terrain, it is about moving through decisions. 

“This means arriving first through surveillance and detection,” he added, which was positioned as a counter to drones and long-range strikes. “If a platform is a system node then its value increases dramatically through manned unmanned teaming. This is how they remain relevant and credible.” 

In a nutshell, the A2CS concept appears to be the Italian iteration and attempt to realise the ‘any sensor, any shooter,’ paradigm. The hope is that combining multiple sensor feeds into a single operational picture, with each of the Lynx infantry fighting vehicles acting as a sensor node, the Italian Army will be able to exert combat power greater than the sum of its parts. 

• Project ASGARD; the British Army’s path to doubling lethality – Calibre Defence 
• NGC2: Lockheed demos first iteration of US Army common data layer – Calibre Defence 
• Recce-Strike insights from Quantum Systems and Stark 

However, he also emphasised that the future was in manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), with conventional crewed forces as the backbone. 

Italy’s concept of operations for MUM-T

The representative provided a brief overview of a concept of operations (CONOPS) for MUM-T. It indicated that there would be a role for optionally manned and unmanned vehicles under the A2CS programme, primarily in combat support roles. But much of the CONOPS appeared to rest on the use of drones. It included the same breakdown of forces as the UK: 20% manned, survivable systems. With 40% of the force coming from attritable uncrewed systems, represented by THeMIS UGVs in the infographic, and 40% from consumable systems – loitering munitions. 

• Hanwha’s plan for MUM-T with heavy autonomous vehicles – Calibre Defence
• Russian FPV drone tactics – Calibre Defence 
• Calibre interview: Kara Dag Technologies unpacks the drone war in Ukraine  

The survivable component would represent the forward line of troops, then the next portion of the battlefield would be held and populated by the 40% of attritable systems, known as the Forward Line of Robots. Beyond that, he outlined a Forward Line of Sensors, which would provide the uncrewed consumable reconnaissance screen of enemy positions. Any identified targets would be passed back to the survivable, crewed vehicles for a decision on how to engage. 

Either the robotic vehicles could be pushed forwards, or loitering munitions, drones, and artillery used to engage identified targets. While the information presented should be treated with some caution as it is subject to change, it does provide an idea of what they are trying to achieve. 

Calibre comment: The lessons from Ukraine

The A2CS appears to be drawing from some engagements in Ukraine where carefully managed forces with a large quantity of uncrewed platforms were able to achieve a loss ratio of 1:27, according to British intelligence. This resulted in the liberation of Kupyansk in late-2025/2026 at a time when Ukraine was assumed to have lost its offensive potential. Ukraine is not alone in these tactics, and Russia’s Rubicon unit has demonstrated the ability to shift battlefield dynamics by isolating frontline units from their supporting assets like electronic warfare. As a concept, it could provide the answer to the challenges that conventional platforms are thought to face, namely their vulnerability to a lot of battlefield threats and limited numbers. 

The lead image shows the delivery ceremony for one of the first four Lynx KF41s. Credit: Leonardo.