It was designed by the Army to modernize and renew the tanks line; it was introduced in service between 1995 and 2002.

The vehicle is a classical tank with a hull, a rear engine, a front driver's seat on the left side and a turret. Its main operational elements are: the smoothbore of 120 mm, a self-stabilized pointing system with a data elaborating unit, the relation between weight and power and the spaced armour​. "Ariete" is flexible from a tactical and operational point of view; it can fire on the move using the stabilization of the fire line and the electro-hydraulic drive system.

It has been used in Iraq, in the "Ancient Babylon" Operation.