M113 APC
On May 17, 2025, Italy announced a major military aid package for Ukraine. The package includes 400 M113 armoured personnel carriers and an unnamed satellite surveillance system. It aims to strengthen Kyiv’s defences in its ongoing war with Russia.
Mainstream Italian outlets like Il Giornale reported the announcement. This is Italy’s 11th military aid package to Ukraine since February 2022. That month marked Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The donation reaffirms Rome’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also highlights Italy’s role as a key European defence partner. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto backed the initiative.
The plan will boost Ukraine’s mobility and situational awareness in fighting Russian forces. The M113 is the centrepiece of the help package. It is a fully tracked vehicle designed by U.S. FMC Corporation in the late 1950s.
The U.S. Army first fielded it in 1961. It has served in many wars, earning a solid reputation. In standard form, the M113 weighs about 12.3 tonnes. It measures 2.69 metres wide, 2.5 metres high, and 4.86 metres long. Its aluminium armour was state-of-the-art when introduced. It protects against small arms fire and artillery fragments. However, it offers a limited defence against modern anti-tank weapons.
The M113 uses a Detroit Diesel 6V53T six-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower. It can reach 67 km/h on roads and travel about 480 km. Configured for troop transport, it carries 11 soldiers plus a driver and commander.
M113 APC
Its main armament is usually a .50 calibre M2 Browning machine gun. This weapon provides suppressive fire against infantry and lightly armoured vehicles. Variants like the M113A1 have upgraded transmissions and engines for better performance.
Its lightweight and sealed hull make it amphibious with minimal preparation. This lets it cross rivers and lakes easily, working across varied terrain. Over 80,000 M113s have been produced in multiple configurations. Roles include troop transport, command, medevac, and mortar carrier. Italy plans to donate 400 M113 APCs to Ukraine. OSINT sources say surplus stocks were revealed in May 2024 satellite images.
The imagery showed Italy mobilising reserves, including M113s, Leopard-1 tanks, and M109L howitzers. The donated APCs could be VCC-1 “Camillino” models, an Italian-modified M113A1. The VCC-1 has stronger armour and can mount extra guns or missile launchers.
Its interior is improved for troop comfort and efficiency. These upgrades make it tougher in modern combat, though age limits it against T-90s or Kornet missiles. Italy’s aid package also includes a satellite monitoring system.
While details remain unclear, it should improve Ukraine’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Satellites can track troop movements, locate artillery, and support precision strikes. Such surveillance is vital in Ukraine’s vast battlespace, where Russia uses drones and long-range artillery.
Analysts speculate the system could be commercial imagery or military-grade hardware from Leonardo S.p.A. Leonardo’s COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites provide high-resolution images in any weather. This capability is key for monitoring contested areas effectively.
Euromaidan Press reports
Italy’s military assistance is only part of its overall policy of assisting Ukraine through bilateral and multilateral means. Rome has sent 10 previous aid shipments since 2022, including sophisticated systems such as the French-Italian SAMP/T air defence system, Storm Shadow missiles, and M109L howitzers, Euromaidan Press reports.
SAMP/T, or Sol-Air Moyenne Portée/Terrestre, is a medium-range air defence system used to counter aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles. It is equipped with the Aster 30 missile, which has a range of up to 120 kilometres and can target targets that are up to 20 kilometres in altitude.
The system’s radar, the Arabel, can perform 360-degree surveillance and simultaneous tracking of several targets, making it a valuable resource in the defence of Ukrainian cities and military bases. Italy’s donation of a second SAMP/T unit in July 2024, under a German-led program, is a testament to its efforts to build Ukraine’s air defence network.
The M113 armoured personnel carrier and satellite system are part of a wide-ranging European effort to support Ukraine’s military capabilities, particularly in the context of the uncertainties surrounding U.S. support following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025.
The Trump administration signalled a shift towards making ceasefire talks a top priority with a statement from the U.S. State Department dated March 12, 2025, claiming that “the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is unsustainable and must end.”
This has prompted European nations, particularly Italy, to raise their financial contributions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters, pledging €1.7 billion of military assistance for 2025, the highest figure for Rome, according to Militarnyi.
Ukraine’s NATO-style security guarantees
Meloni’s diplomatic actions, such as her call for Ukraine’s NATO-style security guarantees, are indicative of Italy’s aspiration to influence the geopolitical environment and have strong relations with Washington.
The operational history of the M113 gives one an insight into its applicability in the situation of Ukraine. In the Vietnam War, the M113 was the workhorse of U.S. mechanised infantry, ploughing through thick jungles to transport soldiers and firepower.
Despite criticism for its inadequate armour against rocket-propelled grenades, its simplicity and low maintenance made it a crew favourite. Since 2022, countries like the United States, Spain, Portugal, and Denmark have donated over 1,500 M113s to Ukraine, according to Wikipedia.
Ukrainian forces have used them effectively in offensives, including the 2022 Kharkiv counteroffensive, to transport troops and evacuate the wounded. However, modern anti-tank systems have severely impacted them, with Russian forces destroying, damaging, or capturing 391 M113s by January 2025.
In comparison, the M113 is behind newer armoured personnel carriers, such as the Russian BMP-3 or the U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which provide heavier protection and combine missile systems. The Bradley, for example, comes equipped with a 25 mm Bushmaster cannon and TOW missile launchers for more firepower and survivability.
The U.S. has shipped over 300 Bradleys to Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have used them in joint operations with M1 Abrams tanks. However, the lower weight and price of the M113 make it suitable for quick deployment and logistic support because of the extended stay of the Ukrainian army on a 1,000-kilometre front line.
Italy’s VCC-1 variant
Italy’s VCC-1 variant, with increased protection, could provide incremental benefits, but it is a temporary measure until next-generation vehicles such as the U.S. Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle [AMPV] replace the M113 in U.S. service.
Despite its abstract description, the satellite surveillance system holds significant transformative potential. The Russian deployment of Lancet drones and Iskander ballistic missiles has shown the need for constant surveillance.
<COSMO-SkyMed’s 1-metre resolution and rapid revisit times would enable Ukraine to target Russian troop concentrations or resupply depots, allowing them to preemptively strike with HIMARS or Storm Shadow missiles.
Italy’s space technology expertise, coupled with Leonardo’s collaboration with the European Space Agency, makes it well-positioned to offer state-of-the-art solutions. Its integration with Ukraine’s current intelligence infrastructure, such as U.S.-aided SIGINT and NATO AWACS intelligence, would enhance its effect.
Italy’s assistance programme embodies a quiet equilibrium between assisting Ukraine and addressing national defence requirements. The return to service of M113s from reserve, as previously quoted, demonstrates that Rome is depleting its older reserves so as not to jeopardise its active military capabilities.
€15 billion A2CS program
Italy’s €15 billion A2CS programme to replace the Dardo infantry combat vehicle marks a move towards next-generation platforms in its armed forces, Defence News says. The A2CS will provide 1,050 armoured vehicles with versatile armour and advanced electronics, establishing Italy as a leader in European defence innovation.
The phasing out of legacy vehicles, like the M113, releases funds for such programs while Italy meets its international commitments. The wider geopolitical situation adds to the significance of Italy’s involvement. The European Union’s sanctioning of €35 billion of loans to Ukraine, with the disbursement of €3 billion in January 2025, highlights the bloc’s determination to support Kyiv’s war efforts, Euromaidan Press reported.
Italy’s leadership of the Armoured Vehicles Coalition and the training of Ukrainian troops by the EU under the EUMAM mission confirm its backing on several fronts. The EU’s 16th package of sanctions, which specifically targets Russia’s illegal fleet and defence industry, further tightens the economic shackles around Moscow by enhancing military aid.
Italy’s latest package of assistance increases Ukraine’s capability in territorial integrity and air defence but poses unanswered questions for the long-term sustainability of the assistance. While the M113s are abundant, they are older systems that require significant maintenance, and the effectiveness of the missing satellite system will depend on its integration and operating parameters.
Conclusion
As Europe gears up to respond to any change in American policy, Italy’s initiative makes it an important component of the transatlantic partnership. Whether this help will prove to be the difference in tipping the balance in favour of Ukraine or merely lengthening an extended ordeal, only time will tell, depending on the evolving dynamics of a four-year war.
References
- Il Giornale – ilgiornale.it
- BulgarianMilitary.com – bulgarianmilitary.com
- Euromaidan Press – euromaidanpress.com
- Leonardo S.p.A. – leonardocompany.com
- Defense News – defensenews.com
- Wikipedia – M113 – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier
- U.S. Department of State – state.gov
- Militarnyi – mil.in.ua
- European Union – europa.eu
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