The Brazilian Army has received a shipment of 30 M577 A2 armored command post vehicles from the United States through the Foreign Military Sales program. These vehicles, which arrived at the Paranaguá Container Terminal on October 6th, were efficiently coordinated for unloading and transportation by the 5th Military Region Command. Subsequently, the vehicles were relocated to the Regional Maintenance Park/5 in Curitiba for modernization to meet Brazilian Armed Forces standards. The M577 A2 armored vehicle, part of the M113 family, plays a vital role in the Brazilian Army’s armored units, serving as a command vehicle. It offers remarkable versatility, as it can be adapted for various functions, including use as ambulances, fire control centers, and communication hubs.
This vehicle can operate in water and is compatible with a wide range of optronic equipment, including night vision gear. These M577 A2 armored vehicles are actively serving within multiple armored units of the 5th Armored Cavalry Brigade and the 6th Armored Infantry Brigade. Since 2016, the Brazilian Army has received a total of 206 armored vehicles through the Paranaguá Port. Prior to this acquisition, these vehicles were already in service within various armored units, including the 5th Armored Cavalry Brigade and the 6th Armored Infantry Brigade. As of 2022, Brazil’s armored fleet included 64 M577A2 vehicles.
The M577 Command Post Carrier, also known as the M577 Command Post Vehicle or Armored Command Post Vehicle, is a variant of the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier that was developed and produced by the Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation (FMC) to function on the battlefield as a mobile command post i.e. a tactical operations centre, usually at the battalion level. In U.S. military service its official designation is Carrier, Command Post, Light Tracked M577. Originally equipped with a Chrysler 75M petrol engine, later versions were upgraded to feature a more efficient General Motors 6V53T diesel engine. The vehicle’s protection features include welded aluminum armor, NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection, and a crew of five members.
In 1979, further M577 A2 upgrades were introduced based on the M113A2. Engine cooling was improved by switching the locations of the fan and radiator. Higher-strength torsion bars increased ground clearance, and shock absorbers reduced the effects of ground strikes. Increased weight affected the vehicle’s freeboard when afloat, and it was no longer required to be amphibious. Four-tube smoke grenade launchers were added on each side of the trimvane on the front of the vehicle. Weighing approximately 11.6 tons and with dimensions of 4.86 meters in length, 2.68 meters in width, and 2.7 meters in height. Additionally, it features an external petrol generator to power its electronic systems and communication equipment, supporting electricity export and jump-starting when needed, offering robust capabilities for the Brazilian Army’s operations.
