Italy sold over 700 M-113 APCs for scrap and took $3 million

 722 M-113 armored personnel carriers from the inventory of the Italian army were demilitarized under the D3 project.

The combat vehicles have already been decommissioned by the Italian army following a process of demilitarisation, dismantling, and disposal [D3]. The process was led by NSPA – Nato Support and Procurement Agency.

Italy has earned 3 million euros [$2.9 million] after selling eight million kilograms of recovered scrap. The deals were done on the international metal markets. Calculations show that the 722 APCs de-metalled resulted in the saving of 41,000 tonnes of CO₂. Non-ferrous and ferrous metals were also recycled, which helped the circular economy.

The process of demetallization of Italian obsolete APCs started nearly two years ago. Then, according to the project, 500 M-113s from the Italian company Montalbetti were to be demetallized. Supervision was also carried out by the procuring entity – NSPA.

The entire process is complex and involves precise actions during its execution. Including cutting many critical components that must “castrate” war machines from being reused. M-113 is made not only of metal but also of dangerous materials. Their elimination had to be done after their identification and processing.

Media in Italy say that all of this as a process has been completed in compliance with applicable rules and regulations related to environmental protection and health and safety standards.

Such contracts awarded by NSPA are not unusual. The agency’s main goal is to help countries reduce the carbon footprint of the combat vehicles in each military’s inventory.