The vehicle carries the latest optical and digital-imaging and fire-control systems, enabling it to fight day and night and to fire on the move.

The Ariete's main armament is 120 mm smoothbore gun, designed by OTO Breda,[1] similar to the Rheinmetall L/44.

The gun barrel has a thermal insulating sleeve and a fume extractor; it is fully stabilized in both azimuth and elevation by an electro-hydraulic drive system.

The tank's advanced fire-control system, manufactured by Galileo Avionica, is designated OG14L3 TURMS, and includes day and night panoramic capability for the commander's SP-T-694 primary sight (developed collaboratively by SFIM/Galileo), a stabilized platform including a thermal gunner's sight and a laser rangefinder to increase accuracy and expedite target detection and targeting, and a digital fire-control computer, which is capable of measuring wind speed, humidity, and exterior weather conditions, combining them with the turret's angle of elevation, attitude, and the barrel's physical wear to increase accuracy.

This computer is also a component of the tank's navigation system and allows for the exchange of tactical information between vehicles in a network.

The commander's sight also has a vertical traverse from –10° to +60° from the horizontal, which allows the tank to engage low-flying airborne threats—primarily helicopters.

During night fighting, the commander and gunner both share the thermal sight which is able to resolve a 2.3×x2.3 m target from a distance of 1,500 m. The Ariete's armour is a steel and composite blend, the turret front shape is similar to the British Challenger 1 and the American M1 Abrams.

While the original V12 1,250 hp FIAT-Iveco MTCA (Modular Turbo-Charged Aftercooler) was a coupling of two of the V6 engines used by several Italian Army vehicles such as the B1 Centauro tank destroyer and the Dardo IFV, it produced less power than the most advanced contemporary western designs.

The Ariete C2 is a mid life update (Ammodernamento di Mezza Vita) of the Ariete for 125 units and includes: CIO-Oto Melara planned to offer the opening of a production line in Brazil at its Sete Lagoas plant, where the LMV is already produced and the Centauro II will be produced for the Brazilian Army.