So let's change that and start from there
We only have to change the mind of one man and allow him better luck in choosing his colaborators. OTL Mussolini did everything so wrong even a little improvement could have made a big difference.
Regarding foreign designs remember dictatorships can lie as they want. They could copy the concept of the BT and still claim it was an Italian design.
It was after all a Russian evolution of a Christie design and the Russians claimed it was 100% russian.
And there's your problem as I've already suggested, the political and military structure in Italy is flawed from the top down, a few technical tweaks here and there will not make them more competent, indeed given the political set up its hard to imagine them even managing the tweaks. After all its as likely as not that Mussolini would block a 'foreign design', especially if those with an interest in the existing design have his ear isn't it?
We only have to change the mind of one man and allow him better luck in choosing his colaborators. OTL Mussolini did everything so wrong even a little improvement could have made a big difference.
Regarding foreign designs remember dictatorships can lie as they want. They could copy the concept of the BT and still claim it was an Italian design.
It was after all a Russian evolution of a Christie design and the Russians claimed it was 100% russian.