IAV 2024: Brazil upgrades armour

Brazil is evaluating two Centauro II armoured vehicles (shown at Eurosatory 2018). (Janes/Patrick Allen)

Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2024 conference being held in London from 22 to 25 January received an update on Brazil's plans to upgrade its armoured forces.

The first part of the modernisation plan consists of two parts, the first involving the upgrade of Brazil's Leopard 1A5 tanks and installing a 30 mm turret on its M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), and the second part the acquisition of a new tracked armoured vehicle – both a main battle tank and an infantry fighting vehicle.

In addition, Brazil is seeking 36 wheeled self-propelled howitzers to complement or replace the Brazilian Army's tracked and towed artillery.

Under a contract signed in December 2022, two prototypes of the Centauro II 8×8 armoured vehicle armed with a 120 mm gun procured from Società Consortile Iveco – Oto Melara (CIO) are being evaluated as Brazil's Viatura Blindada de Cavalaria Média Sobre Rodas (Wheeled Medium Armoured Cavalry Vehicle). If the technical evaluation is successful, 89 serial production vehicles are planned to be manufactured over a 15-year period and equipped with a Brazilian battle management system.

Brazil is also upgrading its 98 Cascavel armoured reconnaissance vehicles, with two prototypes having been procured in 2023. The new-generation version will retain its 90 mm gun and light armour, but will be equipped with an anti-tank missile and night and thermal vision systems. It will also receive a rangefinder and fire-control computer, with the aim of turning it into a hunter-killer vehicle. In addition, its basic command-and-control system will be replaced with a new-generation one, its power train and suspension will be upgraded, and it will receive air conditioning.