Future of the Brazilian Armed Forces

This list presents the present and future strategic programs of the Brazilian Armed Forces that was based on the documents of the National Defense Strategy of 2008, and subsequent versions of the Defense White Paper that outline the major defense programs in Brazil from 2008 until 2040.[1]

Brazilian Army

Centauro II 120 mm

Strategic Program of the Army Armored Forces

The program is coordinated by the Army High Command and is responsible for the modernization of the armored forces with a budget estimated at US$5.3 billion and 2,096 armored vehicles of different types planned. The following vehicles are set to be incorporated by 2040:[2]

  • VBMT LSR 4×4: infantry mobility vehicle: Iveco LMV selected in 2024 for more 420 units. 48 already in operation.[3][4]
  • VBTP MSR 6×6: armoured personnel carrier: Iveco Guarani selected with more than 700 units delivered since 2012.[5]
  • VBE Soc 6×6: armoured ambulance: in selection process.[6]
  • VBR 6×6: 90 mm armored car: Engesa Cascavel in modernization process since 2022 to New Cascavel standard.[7]
  • VBC OAP MSR 6×6: 155 mm self-propelled artillery: Elbit ATMOS selected in 2024 for 36 systems.[8]
  • VBC Cav MSR 8×8: 120 mm tank destroyer: Iveco Centauro II selected in 2022 for 98 systems.[9]
  • VBC CC Leopard 1A5BR: main battle tank: Krauss-Maffei Leopard 1 in selection process of the modernization provider.[6]
  • VBC CC: main battle tank: new MBT or MMBT in selection process for 65 systems.[6]
  • VBC Fuz: infantry fighting vehicle: in selection process for 78 units.[6]

UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters

In July 2024, the MoD authorized the purchase of 12 additional UH-60Ms, in a US$451 million plan.[10]

Brazilian Navy

Riachuelo submarine

Riachuelo-class submarines

In 2008, the presidents of Brazil and France, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy, signed a strategic partnership of US$10 billion to the construction of four conventionally-powered submarines, and the support for the development of the first Brazilian nuclear submarine Álvaro Alberto, in a program called Submarine Development Program. As of 2024, of the five units ordered, three was delivered.[11][12][13]

Tamandaré-class frigates

In 2020, the Brazilian government and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems signed a €2 billion contract for four frigates with the first unit delivered in 2024. A second batch of four more units was revealed by the Navy in 2024.[14][15]

NPa-500MB

The NPa-500MB are a new class of offshore patrol vessels. Eight units are planned with three in the mine countermeasures version.[16]

Future Brazilian Destroyer concept

A concept for a future class of heavy frigates or destroyers.

Brazilian Air Force

Gripen E fighter

JAS 39 Gripen fighters

In 2014, 36 units were ordered in a US$5.4 billion plan. As of 2024, eight units was already delivered.[17][18][19]

KC-390 Millennium transport aircraft

In 2019, 19 units were ordered, as of 2024 six was delivered.[20][21]

AMX replacement

The process of selection for a light attack jet to replace the older AMX is in course with the coordination of the MoD. As of July 2024, the air force evaluated the purchase of 24 General Dynamics F-16s from the US stocks, possibly Block 40/42, and the new Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master Block 20.[22][23][24][25][26]

Joint Staff of the Armed Forces

H225M helicopter

Airbus H225M helicopters

In 2008, the Brazilian government announced the purchase of 50 H225M units as part of a US$1 billion order to the armed forces. As of 2024, several units are in operation within the three branches, and continue to be incorporated to its services.[27][28][29]

Medium and High Altitude Air Defense Artillery System

The process of selection for a new longer and medium range surface-to-air missile system that will be joint operated by the three branches of the armed forces in conjunction with the CINDACTA system and other radars in operation is in course with the coordination of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces. Two request for quotes was already launched by the Brazilian Army on the market in November 2023 and February 2024.[30]

References

  1. ^ "Estratégia de Defesa Nacional". gov.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Programa Estratégico do Exército Forças Blindadas (Prg EE F Bld)". eb.mil.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Mais 420 Guaicurus para o Exército". Tecnodefesa (in Portuguese). 5 July 2024.
  4. ^ "420 Guaicurus para el Ejército Brasileño". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish). 5 July 2024.
  5. ^ Bastos Jr., Paulo Roberto (5 July 2024). "Mais 420 Guaicurus para o Exército". Tecnologia & Defesa. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "The Brazilian Army seeks to advance its projects for acquiring new armored combat vehicles". Zona Militar. 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Exército Brasileiro assina contrato com a Akaer para modernização dos blindados EE-9 Cascavel". Forte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  8. ^ Bastos, Paulo (29 April 2024). "36 vehículos blindados ATMOS: el nuevo sniper de la Artillería del Ejército de Brasil". Pucará Defensa (in Spanish).
  9. ^ Higuera, José (1 December 2022). "Brazilian Army chooses Italian armored vehicle Centauro II". Defense News. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  10. ^ "UH-60 Black Hawks". gov.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 28 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Base de submarino nuclear começará a ser construída em fevereiro" (in Portuguese). Terra. 30 January 2010.
  12. ^ "O Prosub" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Marinha do Brasil PROSUB" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Marinha realiza Cerimônia de Assinatura do Contrato de Construção das Fragatas Classe Tamandaré". Defesa Aérea e Naval (in Portuguese). 5 March 2020.
  15. ^ @marmilbr (9 August 2024). "É hoje (09) o Lançamento da Fragata Tamandaré, o primeiro dos quatro navios que estão sendo construídos na Thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul em Itajaí (SC), parte do Programa Fragatas Classe Tamadaré" (Tweet) (in Portuguese) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "CREDN aprova emendas ao PLOA/2024, destinadas às Forças Armadas e ao Itamaraty". Chamber of Deputies (in Portuguese). 22 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Saab & Brazil sign contract for Gripen NG" (Press release). Saab. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2024. Gripen NG deliveries to the Brazilian Air Force will be undertaken from 2019 to 2024. […] The commitments by Sweden and Brazil secure Gripen's industrial and operational future into the 2050 timeframe.
  18. ^ "Gripen E Entering Serial Delivery Phase for Brazilian and Swedish Air Forces". Saab. 24 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Saab entregou hoje os primeiros Gripen E para Forças Aéreas Brasileira e Sueca". Defesa Aérea e Naval (in Portuguese). 24 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Brazil cuts three Embraer KC-390s, reducing order to 19".
  21. ^ "FAB celebra Dia do Especialista e incorpora aeronaves - Força Aérea Brasileira".
  22. ^ "Brazilian Air Force in negotiations with US for used F-16s". Janes. 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  23. ^ Santana, Sergio (17 June 2024). "F-16 'Falcão da Noite': o caça que poderá complementar o Gripen na FAB" [F-16 ‘Night Falcon’: the fighter that could complement the Gripen in the FAB]. Poder Aéreo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Força Aérea Brasileira responde sobre aquisição de caças F-16 usados" [Brazilian Air Force responds on acquisition of used F-16 fighters]. Defesa Aérea e Naval (in Portuguese). 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  25. ^ Gielow, Igor (15 June 2024). "Brasil estuda comprar caças F16 usados devido ao preço do Gripen" [Brazil is considering buying used F16 fighters due to the price of the Gripen]. Folha de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Brasil se acerca al nuevo M-346 Master Block 20 durante el Salón Aeronáutico de Farnborough 2024 en el Reino Unido". Infodefensa. 24 July 2024.
  27. ^ Farias, Ivy (8 September 2008). "Brasil produzirá em Minas Gerais helicópteros para as Forças Armadas". Agência Brasil.[permanent dead link] Retrieved on 11 July 2009.
  28. ^ "Brazil's $1B+ Order for EC725 Cougar Helicopters." Archived 25 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine Defense Industry Daily, 5 January 2012.
  29. ^ "Continued delivery of the H225M for the Brazilian armed forces despite announcement of 2 year delay." Archived 25 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine defesanet, 3 July 2015.
  30. ^ "The Brazilian Army is evaluating the acquisition of high-altitude air defense artillery systems". Zona Militar. 30 June 2024.
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