Italy has ordered a pair of Bv206S articulated all-terrain Arctic armored personnel carriers for extensive winter trials. If the vehicles meet expectations, Italy plans to buy 58 more. The Bv206S is an advanced version of the Bv206, of which the Swedes have produced and sold 11,000 to 40 countries. Italy, for example, already has 90 of the earlier Bv206 vehicles. France has bought a dozen of the Bv206S types, and Germany is negotiating for 100 of them.--Stephen V Cole