APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080002-5
Space Research Organization (ESRO) and the European Conference for Satellite Communications (ECSC).
Italy has conducted limited research and development on ground weapons. However, the expanded facilities and improved capabilities of Italian industry is enabling numerous projects to be undertaken in the research, development, and production of armored vehicles. Two such vehicles are currently in development, both of which are light weight and amphibious—one, the Fiat 6616 reconnaissance vehicle (Figure 6) is designed for a three-man crew, the other, the Fiat 6614 armored personnel carrier (Figure 7) is designed to carry 6 to 8 men plus the driver. A second version, the 6614P, is designed with a longer wheelbase to accommodate 12 combat-equipped men.
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FIGURE 6. Fiat 6616 Italian-developed lightweight amphibious reconnaissance vehicle (U/OU)
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FIGURE 7. Fiat 6614 lightweight amphibious armored personnel carrier being developed by Italy (U/OU)
Italy was involved with France and West Germany in the determination of requirements for the Leopard-1 tank and later brought 200 Leopards from West Germany and will coproduce 600 more starting in 1974 but the extent of participation in actual research and development is unknown except that extensive testing of Leopard-1 (under hot climatic conditions) was conducted in Sardinia by the Italians. Considerable modification research and redesign also is conducted on U.S.-produced armored vehicles used by the Italian Army. Italian researchers have modernized the U.S. M-47 (Patton) tank. Firepower was increased by replacing the 90-mm gun with a 105-mm gun; other improvements included a new transmission, a modified hull, a new electrical system, a redesigned fuel system and ammunition storage arrangement, and a diesel engine. Also, an improved track link has been developed for the USA M-113 armored personnel carriers used in Italy.
Italian work in mine warfare equipment is excellent, and commercial firms have extensive programs to develop and manufacture high-quality mines and mine fuzes for the Italian Army. Research and development on explosives and explosive phenomena are maintained at a level to provide for future defense requirements. Facilities are available for experiments with high-energy materials, and some work is done on the development of new and improved explosive compositions. Italy has a considerable capability for research and development of transport vehicles and their engines, but little effort is made with respect to military hardware. Research projects presently underway stress vehicle design for mountainous and rough terrain operations and amphibious capability.
The most significant bridging and stream-crossing equipment development currently underway is the Astra multispan tank-launched bridge; although launched bridges have been used, Italy has become the first country in the West to have successfully developed a multispan bridge. It consists of a scissors-type treadway span with the ramp section capable of being converted into a pier to serve as intermediate support. After the first span is emplaced, successive spans can be launched by other bridgelayers from the deck of the emplaced span.
Italy has a relatively strong research and development capability in topographic equipment. The development of the analytical plotter by OMI-Nistri in cooperation with the Bendix Corporation in the United States is a continuing project of considerable military interest. The Galileo works (Officine Galileo) has recently completed development of an orthophotographic attachment for a stereoplotter, a precision stereocomparator, and a new aerial mapping camera to add to its full line of photogrammetric and geodetic equipment. Research related to quartermaster equipment covers a variety of fields. Considerable work has been done on collapsible
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080002-5
