[Development] Centauro II (P): Evolutionized - News

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Centauro II (P): Evolutionized

11 March 2026 Development

Today we’re looking at the prototype of the most modern wheeled tank destroyer of the Italian Army: the Centauro II (P)!

Centauro II (P): A Light Tank for Italy at Rank VIII

At a glance:

Automatic loader, with blow-out panels for the ammo
Excellent mobility!
120 mm smoothbore gun and the DM53 APFSDS round
Thermal imager for the gunner
Light armor and large in size

Development of the Centauro II (P) wheeled tank destroyer began in 2011 as a response to the identified shortcomings of the previous model in modern warfare and asymmetric conflicts. The key drivers for the new vehicle’s development were the outdated electronic architecture of the baseline Centauro, which was incompatible with the SICCONA network-centric command and control system, and the insufficient level of protection revealed during operations in Iraq, Kosovo, and Somalia.

Structurally, the Centauro II (P) represents a major modernization, incorporating technologies developed on the Freccia armored fighting vehicle. The vehicle features a completely redesigned hull with a V-shaped bottom for improved protection against mines and IEDs, a new layout with isolated fuel and ammunition compartments, and a modern surveillance suite and electronic countermeasure system. The primary armament is a 120 mm smoothbore cannon with an autoloader, housed in a new turret with improved armor and ammunition isolated from the crew.

The first prototype was presented in 2016, and a pre-production batch of 11 vehicles has been built to date, each of which serves to test and refine the final configuration of future production vehicles.

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Introducing the Centauro II (P)!

Meet the working prototype of Italy’s latest wheeled tank destroyer, the Centauro II (P), which incorporates all of the latest global technological tank improvements for vehicles of this class. Let’s get acquainted with the second-generation Centauro and explore what sets it apart from the previous design!

Compared to the first series, the Centauro II (P) has undergone significant exterior changes. It received a new HITFACT Mk II turret, with the most significant and valuable change being its division into a crew compartment for the commander, gunner and loader, and compartments away from the crew. In addition to this, the automatic loader and 6-round first-stage ammunition stowage are now located behind an armored bulkhead at the rear of the turret. The reload speed is now independent of crew skill thanks to the autoloader!

The compartment that houses the autoloader and ready-to-load ammunition features blowout panels, increasing the Centauro II (P)’s survivability. The main gun is generally similar to the 120 mm cannon found on the first-generation of vehicles, although it’s a bit lighter.

Moving onto the hull now, which has also been transformed! It now has a trapezoidal shape and reinforced underbody armor for protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. The hull also features spaced armor protection against anti-tank grenades. However in reality, the Centauro II (P)’s armor can only reliably withstand machine gun rounds. Most autocannons can penetrate the armor, as well as all armor-piercing tank shells and ATGMs of course.

The Centauro series is renowned for its excellent speed, despite its increased weight of 30 tons, the second series here is no exception. The Centauro II (P) features a more powerful 720 HP turbocharged diesel engine, delivering a respectable power-to-weight ratio and quickly accelerating the vehicle to speeds exceeding 100 km/h.

One of the Centauro II (P)’s significant drawbacks is its size, particularly its height. The roof of the already tall turret houses two machine guns, one rifle-caliber and one 12.7 mm in a remote-controlled mount, as well as a cylinder-shaped panoramic sight. Concealing the Centauro II (P) will be difficult, and the turret’s slightly awkward positioning toward the rear must also be taken into account, as it limits the gun’s depression angle.

That’s the Centauro II (P) for you! This fast and lethal vehicle is waiting for you at rank VIII of the Italian light tank line, coming in War Thunder’s first major update of 2026. We’ll continue to share more dev blogs and other information on our website, so be sure to check it out!

Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.