Aloha everyone!!

Does anyone know if the Italian Army has looked into, or has actually added the bar armor system to its fleet of Ariete C1's? If so does anyone have any pics?

Thank you in advance!!

Kurt

Hi Kurt
If you mean at the add on armour modules on the side turret and hull, they haven't added.
The extra armour modules were added on the employed vehicle only.
The vehicle stationed on the mainland didn't mount the extra armour also due to low engine power (1200 bhp) .
The actual extra armour aren't the final one, there will be two type of armour, WAR that will be permanently mounted, and PEACE KEEPING that will be mounted only in the operating theater.
Here a future possible design of the PEACE KEEPING armour package
http://www.ferreamole.it/images/ariete_upa/arieteupa.htm
The Ariete fleet is waiting the half-life upgrade to get a new engine with 1600 bhp more or less, but nothing sure about its
Lucio

Great info Lucio!

Sorry, let me clarify. I was actually referring to the "bar armor" like the type seen on up armored Challenger 2's that covers the exhaust and engine areas ( I guess you could also call it slat armor like the type used on Strykers). But, if as you mentioned, the C1 would have weight issues with up armoring it then I would suppose bar armor would be out. Just curious.....

Thanks again for the info Lucio!