Brazilian Army to modernize 25% of its Leopard 1A5 BR while looking for a successor

The Brazilian Army has decided to modernize 52 Leopard 1A5 BR battle tanks over six years, from 2024 to 2030, with the possibility of changing the armament from 05 mm to 120 mm by installing a new turret.

In the event of finally opting to modernize the armament – something consistent with some proposals recently presented in the armored vehicle market at the last edition of the Parisian Eurosatory fair -, the 3105 (105 mm) turrets from John Cockerill and Hitfact II (120 mm) from Leonardo are the best-valued options in the market to compete for this contract.

The decision, published in the September 9 Army Bulletin, makes public EME/C Ex Orders Nos. 847 and 848 approving the operational (EB20-RO-04.060) and technical, logistical, and industrial (EB20-RTLI-04.066) requirements for the armored fighting vehicle – current battle tank (VBC CC Current), revoking previous orders within the Army Strategic Program (Prg EE) Armored Forces.

The initially proposed upgrade project envisioned the modernization of 116 units of the 200/220 VBC-CC available, an extension of the service life to 50% of the fleet for another 15 years (2022-2037) with the implementation of an Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) package that would guarantee the availability of this material.

As the document shows, this percentage was reduced to 25%, an adjustment orchestrated between the Directorate of Materials (DMat) and the Army General Staff (EME).

Objective: to shorten the transition time until the selection of the winner in the VBC CC Futuro project, the replacement for the Leopard 1A5 BR. Program for which still, this 2022, the budget request destined to the market must be published.

COMPANIES COMPETING FOR THE CONTRACT

Among the companies interested in this tender are KMW do Brasil, a subsidiary of the original manufacturer of the vehicle; the German FFG, which, in addition to its specialized engineering vehicles and electrical innovations, specializes in modernizations; and the giant Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH (RLS).

Ares Aerospace and Defense (Elbit Systems) and Equitron Engineering will also seek to win the contract.

Turkey with Aselsan, Belgium with John Cockerill Defense, Italy with Goriziane SpA, and Switzerland’s Ruag complete the group of international companies that have publicly shown their interest in competing for this modernization contract.

With information from InfoDefensa