ST Engineering teams with ARIS and Leonardo to propose its Bronco 3 to the Italian Army
The Italian Army is developing its arctic capability, the aim being to provide a contingent fully operational for deep cold missions in support to the NATO northern front. The need to replace the ageing BV206 in various configurations, the first of which were acquired in the 1980s, led ST Engineering to propose its Bronco 3 All Terrain Tracked Carrier to Italy, teaming with ARIS, a Turin based company specialised in design, manufacturing and maintenance of vehicles and special equipment, and with Leonardo, the Italian defence giant
During one of the major specialist exercises carried out by Italian mountain troops, the “Volpe Bianca” (white fox) which included the “Arctic Forum Dolomites 2025” that saw the participation of top political and military representatives, numerous companies exhibited their products aimed at cold weather operations. Among them was the Bronco 3, seen for the fist time with the logos of all three companies, marking the officialization of agreements inked in 2024.
EDR On-Line had the chance to test the Bronco 3 in northern Finland a few years ago; in January 2025 at the SecD-Day event Sisu Auto unveiled the Sisu GTT, the result of the cooperation with ST Engineering for promoting the Bronco 3 in Finland, a move similar to that done by the Singaporean company in Italy, the latter surfacing two months after the Finnish one, showing the active promotion carried out by ST Engineering in Europe.
With a curb mass of 10,000 kg and a 6,000 kg payload the Bronco 3 carries four passengers in the front cabin and eight in the rear one, when fitted in the personnel carrier configuration. Powered by a 325 hp diesel engine it can reach a maximum speed of 65 km/h and can climb a 60% slope on hard terrain, which becomes 30% in deep snow. Fully amphibious at 16 tonnes mass, its protection level can be tailored to customers’ needs and missions, add-on armour kits against armour piercing rounds up to Lebel 4 and floors against blast/mine threats being available, as well as cage-armour solutions against shaped charge rocket propelled grenades.
The vehicle seen at Dobbiaco, in the Dolomites, was fitted with one Leonardo Hitrole Light remotely controlled weapon station on each cabin, the one on the front cabin armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun while that on the rear one was armed with a 7.62 mm MG, providing considerable firepower. Considered for long time mostly as logistic vehicles, thanks to the extra payload available the latest versions of the Bronco allow improved protection and firepower, which can bring them in the fighting vehicles category, considering the potential enemies against which they might be used.
Beside the cabin option the rear prime mover can be fitted with a flatbed, or even with a mortar, ST Engineering proposing its 120 mm SRAMS.
Should the Italian Army select the Bronco 3, Leonardo would be the prime contractor, while ARIS would produce the platform under licence from ST Engineering. Leonardo would also be the system integrator, and would develop specialised modules such as Command Post, Mortar Carrier, CASEVAC, and other. Modularity allows easy shift from one mission module to another; modules can be fitted with outriggers that allow switching from one to another without using a light crane, and with only few personnel. The programme would involve around Italian 25 SMEs that employ 2,800 personnel overall.
As for the Italian Army programme, potential numbers have not been unveiled yet, EDR On-Line estimating that these should definitely be three-digit numbers.
Photos by P. Valpolini
