Brazil aims to become a military power with more than 2,100 armored vehicles by 2040, 120 mm cannons capable of hitting targets at 5 km, amphibious vehicles at 110 km/h, and a new billion-dollar fleet for the Brazilian Army ready to modernize ground combat.

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 16/05/2026 at 16:30

Be the first to react!

Strategic Army Program accelerates renewal of the armored fleet with amphibious vehicles, tank destroyers, modern weapon systems, and national production aimed at strengthening Brazilian land defense by 2040, amid the technological advancement of military forces and the expansion of the operational capacity of mechanized troops.

Within the Strategic Armored Forces Program, the Brazilian Army intends to incorporate more than 2,100 armored vehicles by 2040, expanding the renewal of the land combat fleet and increasing the operational capacity of the Infantry and Cavalry troops in different scenarios of action.

According to the official planning, more than 820 armored vehicles had already been acquired or contracted by the end of 2025, including wheeled vehicles, multitask models, Cavalry combat vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, combat cars, Marine Corps armored vehicles, and rescue means.

Brazilian Army bets on a new generation of armored vehicles

Amid the technological advancement of land forces and the increase in international tensions, the Army began to prioritize platforms with greater mobility, enhanced protection, and more modern onboard systems to expand the response capacity of mechanized units.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Guarani 6×6 leads the modernization of mechanized troops

Considered the main national platform for troop mechanization, the VBTP-MR 6×6 Guarani features characteristics aimed at rapid mobility, with about 18 tons, 6×6 traction, an approximate range of 600 kilometers, and a speed that can reach 110 km/h.

In addition to amphibious capability, which allows operations in aquatic environments without prior preparation, the vehicle can be equipped with remotely controlled weapon systems, including .50 and 7.62 mm machine guns, as well as a turret equipped with a 30 mm cannon.

While more than 700 units already operate in different regions of the country, including border areas, the Army’s planning foresees more than a thousand vehicles in versions intended for command and control, communications, engineering, health, and ambulance.

Guaicurus expands role in ground operations

Aimed at broad-spectrum missions, the VBMT 4×4 Guaicurus was incorporated for operations that require speed, protection, and flexibility, weighing around eight tons, with the ability to operate in flooded areas and modern communication systems.

With the possibility of receiving automated weapons equipped with thermal cameras in .50 or 7.62 mm calibers, the vehicle allows for target identification at long distances and operation in low visibility without direct exposure of the shooter.

Brazilian Army accelerates modernization with more than 2,100 armored vehicles, amphibious vehicles, and 120 mm cannons.

Currently, the Army has 32 units of the Guaicurus, but the plan foresees the acquisition of more than 420 vehicles by 2033 to expand the presence of this model in ground operations and patrol missions.

Centauro II enhances Cavalry firepower

Among the projects considered most strategic by the Army is the VBC Cav 8×8 Centauro II, seen as the main advancement in the firepower of Mechanized Cavalry by combining high mobility, modern onboard technology, and an approximate range of 800 kilometers.

Classified as a tank destroyer vehicle, it uses a 120 mm stabilized cannon capable of hitting targets up to 5 kilometers away, in addition to reaching speeds of up to 105 km/h in ground movements.

After the approval of two prototypes, the schedule foresees the acquisition of another 96 units in the coming years, reinforcing the reconnaissance, protection, and response capabilities of Brazilian mechanized troops.

Cascavel and Leopard remain in operation until 2040

Alongside the arrival of new armored vehicles, the program also includes the modernization of vehicles already used by the troops, such as the Cascavel, which receives system updates to continue operating in a complementary manner to the Centauro II.

Another model included in the revitalization process is the Leopard 1A5, employed by Brazil since 2009 and equipped with a 105 mm cannon, a fire control system with thermal vision, and an approximate range of 600 kilometers.

Weighing about 42 tons, the tracked combat vehicle is expected to remain in operation until 2040, within a plan that seeks to avoid loss of capability while the fleet renewal occurs gradually.

Defense Industrial Base gains space in the project

While expanding the operational capacity of the troops, the program aims to strengthen the Defense Industrial Base through national production, technology transfer, and technical qualification of professionals linked to the sector.

This movement can boost areas such as armor, embedded electronics, armaments, maintenance, communications, simulation, and systems integration, considered strategic to reduce external dependence on military equipment.

The package also includes improvements to the UT-30 turret, installed on the Guarani and operated from inside the vehicle, as well as simulators aimed at preparing drivers and crews, including the Star Max system used in the Guaicurus.

Within this set of initiatives, there is also the Max 1.2 AC missile, a domestically manufactured anti-tank system pointed out as one of the main Brazilian weapons developed for action against armored targets.

Brazil aims to become a military power with more than 2,100 armored vehicles by 2040, 120 mm cannons capable of hitting targets at 5 km, amphibious vehicles at 110 km/h, and a new billion-dollar fleet for the Brazilian Army ready to modernize ground combat.

Brazilian Army bets on a new generation of armored vehicles

Guarani 6×6 leads the modernization of mechanized troops

Guaicurus expands role in ground operations

Centauro II enhances Cavalry firepower

Cascavel and Leopard remain in operation until 2040

Defense Industrial Base gains space in the project

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

Secret chamber sealed 4,500 years ago found in the Pyramid of Khufu, and Hawass announces its opening to the world in 2026

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

Germany installed vertical solar panels on a lake in Bavaria, and the result broke conventional logic: instead of producing energy at midday peak, the plant generates more early in the morning and in the evening, exactly when families turn on appliances and factories are in full swing.

While communities suffer from water scarcity and the advancing desert, women in Morocco use nets high up in the mountains to trap fog droplets, fill reservoirs, and transport drinking water through more than 10 km of piping.

The world’s smallest bridge connects Portugal and Spain in just 3.2 meters and allows you to gain or lose an hour when crossing the border between the two countries, attracting curious visitors due to its tiny structure and unusual history.

Ford confirms the electric van Transit City for Brazil in 2026 with up to 250 km of range, fast charging in 30 minutes, and a focus on urban deliveries as last-mile logistics gain traction in the country.

Larger than the Toyota Hilux and with a range of 71.9 km/l, the new Jetour F700 PHEV emerges with 1,631 hp, four electric motors, charging from 20% to 80% in 10 minutes, and a size close to the Ram 1500.

In the backlands of Paraíba, Pedra da Maravilha surprises locals and tourists by balancing on a small rocky base, creating a curious landscape that has become a postcard of Belém do Brejo do Cruz and raises doubts in those who only know it from the internet.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.

Brazil aims to become a military power with more than 2,100 armored vehicles by 2040, 120 mm cannons capable of hitting targets at 5 km, amphibious vehicles at 110 km/h, and a new billion-dollar fleet for the Brazilian Army ready to modernize ground combat.

Brazilian Army bets on a new generation of armored vehicles

Guarani 6×6 leads the modernization of mechanized troops

Guaicurus expands role in ground operations

Centauro II enhances Cavalry firepower

Cascavel and Leopard remain in operation until 2040

Defense Industrial Base gains space in the project

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

Secret chamber sealed 4,500 years ago found in the Pyramid of Khufu, and Hawass announces its opening to the world in 2026

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

Germany installed vertical solar panels on a lake in Bavaria, and the result broke conventional logic: instead of producing energy at midday peak, the plant generates more early in the morning and in the evening, exactly when families turn on appliances and factories are in full swing.

While communities suffer from water scarcity and the advancing desert, women in Morocco use nets high up in the mountains to trap fog droplets, fill reservoirs, and transport drinking water through more than 10 km of piping.

Plastic destined for landfills is turned into gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in Mexico, but Petgas technology sparks debate: real recycling or a cleaner way to burn waste while plastic pollution grows worldwide at an urgent global scale.

Sony launches “neck air conditioner” that cools the entire body, has 10 hours of autonomy, and intelligent cooling algorithm

NASA satellite image shows a giant mark left by fires in Georgia, where extreme drought, winds, and remnants of Hurricane Helene helped the fire advance over more than 22,000 hectares in an area visible from space.

Second large cruise ship built in China departs from Shanghai for testing with 937 professionals from 12 countries on board. Adora Flora City is 341 meters long, has 2,130 cabins, and a capacity for over 5,200 passengers.

Researchers discover that the more ice melts in Antarctica, the more warm water can reach the base of the platforms and melt even more. A scientist says that the climate tipping point may arrive sooner than current models predict.

The world’s smallest bridge connects Portugal and Spain in just 3.2 meters and allows you to gain or lose an hour when crossing the border between the two countries, attracting curious visitors due to its tiny structure and unusual history.

Ford confirms the electric van Transit City for Brazil in 2026 with up to 250 km of range, fast charging in 30 minutes, and a focus on urban deliveries as last-mile logistics gain traction in the country.

Larger than the Toyota Hilux and with a range of 71.9 km/l, the new Jetour F700 PHEV emerges with 1,631 hp, four electric motors, charging from 20% to 80% in 10 minutes, and a size close to the Ram 1500.

In the backlands of Paraíba, Pedra da Maravilha surprises locals and tourists by balancing on a small rocky base, creating a curious landscape that has become a postcard of Belém do Brejo do Cruz and raises doubts in those who only know it from the internet.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.