Egypt is reported to be close to procuring AV-TM 300 missiles along with their launcher platform, the Avibras Astros II (Artillery Saturation Rocket System) II MK6 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). According to Tactical Report, this deal is said to be part of a broader series of agreements that were recently signed between Egypt and Brazilian defense companies. Avibrás worked almost exclusively with the manufacturing of rockets and multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), such as the Astros II. The Astros II multiple rocket launcher the most profitable weapon produced by Avibrás, it was sold to Brazil, Malaysia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Bahrain, Qatar and Angola.
Astros II is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher produced in Brazil by the Avibras company. The ASTROS II artillery system entered service with the Brazilian Army in 1983. The system is battle proven, having been used in action by the Iraqi Army in the Gulf Wars. It features modular design and employs rockets with calibers ranging from 127 to 450 mm (5–17.72 inches). It was developed on the basis of a Tectran VBT-2028 6×6 all-terrain vehicle for enhanced mobility based on Mercedes-Benz 2028 truck chassis. The ASTROS II artillery system entered service with the Brazilian Army in 1983.
The next step is an ambitious program, the ASTROS 2020 (MK6), based on a 6×6 wheeled chassis.[8] Being a new concept, it will require an estimated investment of R$1.2 billion, of which about US$210 million will be invested solely in development. It will be integrated with the cruise missile AVMT-300 with 300-km range during the stage of testing and certification. The Astros 2020 will also be equipped with a 180 mm GPS-guided rocket called the SS-AV-40G with a range of 40 km (25 mi) and SS-150 newly developed rockets with a claimed maximum range of 150 km. Four of them are carried. 36 Astros 2020 systems are to be acquired.
The AV-TM 300 Tactical Missile or MTC-300 (Míssil Tático de Cruzeiro) is a Brazilian cruise missile that is under development by Avibras for the Astros 2020 system. Nicknamed Matador (“killer”), it is projected to be a less expensive alternative to the American Tomahawk (missile). The missile is equipped with a central computer that combines a Ring laser gyroscope, connected to an active GPS navigation device that uninterruptedly supplies positioning information for course correction. The missile can use a single warhead of 200 kg of high explosive or cluster munition warhead with 64 submunitions for anti-personnel or anti-tank targets.
