The Brazilian Army (Exército Brasileiro) will upgrade the Amazon Military Command air defense system with the procurement of Saab RBS 70 NG man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) for the 12th Jungle Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (12º Grupo de Artilharia Antiaérea de Selva,12th GAAAe Sl), located in Manaus, Amazonas state. The Amazon Military Command (Comando Militar da Amazônia) is one of eight Military Commands of the Brazilian Army. The Amazon Military Command is responsible for the defence of the Amazon Basin. Its area of responsibility covers the states of Amazonas, Acre, Roraima and Rondônia.
The Brazilian Army’s main anti-aircraft weapons are the Gepard 1A2 gun system and RBS 70, Djigit, and 9K338 Igla-S missile systems, and L/70 and Oerlikon GDF-001 towed gun system. The 14th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battery (14th Bia AAAe) in Olinda, State of Pernambuco, was officially deactivated on 20 December 2016 to form the 12th Jungle Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (12º GAAAe Sl) in Manaus, State of Amazonas, equipped with 9K338 Igla-S and RBS 70 missile systems. The Brazilian Army’s 12th Jungle Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (12th GAAAe Sl), based in Manaus, amalgamated the 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade (1st Bda AAAe) of Garujá (State of São Paulo) in 2018.
RBS 70 NG is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) designed for anti-aircraft warfare in all climate zones with little to no support from other forces, manufactured by the Swedish Company SAAB. The RBS 70 NG is based on the RBS 70 with new-generation sighting system, high precision, unbeatable range and unjammable laser guidance. The RBS 70 NG has an effective intercept range of 8 km, with altitude coverage in excess of 5,000 m, making it a best-in-class air defence missile system. It is capable of operating in complex environments such as urban terrain and is well equipped for all environments, including tropical, desert and arctic conditions.
The Brazilian Army has contracted Saab to supply the latest version RBS 70 NG man-portable air defence system. Under the contract, the company will deliver an undisclosed number of RBS 70 NG units and also supply training systems, camouflage systems and other related equipment. Their existing RBS 70 inventory has been in service with the Brazilian Army since 2014. The system had a big role in 2016 as it was a part of the protection of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The contract marks the first RBS 70 NG order placed by the Brazilian Army, representing the modernisation of the service’s air defence capability.
