The Brazilian Army’s new equipment was displayed at the 2023 edition of LAAD Defense & Security, Latin America’s largest and most important defense and security show. The Cascavel armored vehicle, which has been utilized by the Brazilian Army since the 1970s, will be replaced by the 88 Centauro II Medium Cavalry Armored Combat Vehicle. The Brazilian Army obtained two Centauro II samples, which arrived at the end of January. A team from the Army Evaluation Center (CAEx) is evaluating the vehicle in Italy, the headquarters of the CIO Consortium. The two Centauro II samples are expected to arrive in Brazil by the end of the year, allowing the process to be completed.
The purchase project calls for the construction of the vehicle platform and the 120 mm cannon turret in Brazil, as well as the transfer of technology and knowledge to the national industry for both production and logistical support. During the exposition, Army General Tomás Miguel Miné Ribeiro Paiva, Commander of the Brazilian Army, received a mock-up of the armored Centauro II. The handover was carried out by Giovanni Luisi, vice president of the CIO Consortium (Iveco-Oto Melara), Humberto Spinetti, president of IDV Latin America, and Francesco Moliterni, president of Leonardo do Brasil.
The Centauro is a family of Italian military vehicles originating from a wheeled tank destroyer for light to medium territorial defense and tactical reconnaissance. It was developed by a consortium of manufacturers, the Società Consortile Iveco Fiat – OTO Melara (CIO). Iveco Fiat was tasked with developing the hull and propulsion systems while Oto Melara was responsible for developing the turrets and weapon systems. Over the years, the Centauro platform has been developed into multiple variants to fulfill other combat roles, such as infantry fighting vehicle or self-propelled howitzer.
The Brazilian Army has chosen the Centauro II 120 mm system made by CIO as top of the list within the procurement process named Viatura Blindada de Cavalaria Média Sobre Rodas (VBC Cav – MSR 8×8). The new armored cavalry vehicle is intended to replace the VBR-MSR EE-9 Cascavel. For a time, the two types will be utilized concurrently, as a Cascavel modernisation contract can extend the vehicles’ usable life by another 15 years. 98 Centauro II ordered in November 2022, with eventual local production in Sete Lagoas by Iveco’s Brazilian branch, together with the related 6×6 VBTP-MR Guarani. Brazil is also evaluating investment in a total of 221 8×8 armored vehicles up to €2 billion.
