On Friday, April 17, 2026, Spain’s Indra Land Vehicles, part of Indra Group, and Italy’s Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV), part of Leonardo Group, signed an agreement for the supply of 34 SuperAV amphibious wheeled armored personnel carriers to the Spanish Marine Corps (Infantería de Marina) under the VACIM (Vehículo de Combate Anfibio) program. In December 2025, the UTE VACIM consortium, comprising Indra and Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E), won a tender worth 374 million EUR.
SuperAV / Photos: IDV
Under the tender procedure announced in July 2025, Spain’s Ministry of Defence was seeking a supplier of 34 amphibious armored platforms in an 8×8 configuration, of which 28 are to be configured as infantry carriers, 2 as command vehicles, 2 as recovery vehicles, and 2 as ambulances.
Interestingly, the defense ministry in Madrid had been interested in the Italian platforms since at least 2023, when Rome decided to purchase them. In May 2023, the vehicle was selected by the Italian Navy in a batch of 36 units. The armed forces are interested in acquiring a further 110: 28 for the navy, 64 for the army, and 18 for the engineering corps. Chile has also expressed interest: 450–500 for the army and 30 for the navy.
The SuperAV also served as the basis for the development, jointly with BAE Systems Inc., of the amphibious personnel carrier that won the U.S. Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program. Since May last year, IDV has also been offering a non-amphibious variant designated SuperAV Land, in which Qatar is interested in purchasing several hundred units.
The SuperAV will replace U.S.-made AAV-7A1 Assault Amphibious Vehicles, 19 of which are in service: 17 AAVP personnel carriers, 1 AAVC-7A1 command vehicle, and 1 AAVR-7A1 recovery vehicle. In the future, it could also replace 39 Piranha IIIC 8×8 vehicles.
According to the press releases, for Indra Land Vehicles, winning the program strengthens its role as Spain’s leading integrator, expands its offering to include amphibious solutions, and consolidates the value chain in the combat platform segment. For IDV, the cooperation opens up new opportunities for lasting industrial collaboration in Spain, while confirming that its technology is a reference standard in terms of amphibious capabilities, high performance, and advanced mobility in the maritime and land domains. This partnership represents a significant step for the company, strengthening its position in the global defense market and demonstrating the reliability and effectiveness of its platforms in complex scenarios.
The SuperAV is 8.75 m long, 3.12 m wide, and 2.79 m high. Its curb weight is 27.5 t, and its payload is 4 t. It is powered by a 700 hp turbocharged Iveco Cursor 16 diesel engine producing 3,000 Nm of torque, coupled to an Allison 4800 SP automatic transmission and an 8×8 driveline derived from the Centauro and Freccia vehicles. This allows it to reach a maximum road speed of 105 km/h.
When swimming, the vehicle is propelled by two waterjets at speeds of up to 6 kt (10 km/h), enabling maneuvering in Sea State 3. Its road range is 800 km, while its water range is 40 nautical miles (64 km). The crew consists of 1 to 3 soldiers: commander, driver, and gunner. The vehicle can carry 9 to 12 soldiers, providing them with ballistic protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 3 and mine protection.