Weighing 13 Tons and Bulletproof Against 7.62 Rifle Fire, the BOPE Armored Vehicle 'Caveirão' Can Transport 11 Police Officers and Pass Through Burning Barricades

Weighing 13 Tons and Bulletproof Against 7.62 Rifle Fire, the BOPE Armored Vehicle ‘Caveirão’ Can Transport 11 Police Officers and Pass Through Burning Barricades

Written by Bruno Teles

Published on 08/07/2025 at 11:21

blindado Maverick Caveirão BOPE

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We Delved into the Engineering of the Maverick, the Fortress on Wheels Used by Elite Troops. Discover What Its Armor Is Made Of, What Engine Powers It, and How Much Technology It Carries to Survive in Conflict Zones.

Imposing, intimidating, and designed to withstand the extreme. The armored vehicle popularly known as the “Caveirão”, an icon of special forces operations such as the BOPE, is much more than just a transport vehicle. It is a survival tool, a mobile fortress whose engineering is focused on a single goal: to protect its crew in one of the most hostile environments in the world.

But what lies behind the legend? The most modern model in use by several police forces in Brazil is the Maverick, manufactured by the South African Paramount Group. We conducted a thorough analysis of the technology and engineering of this machine to address the main questions about it.

‘The Armadillo’s Shell’: What Material Is the Armor Made Of?

The main characteristic of a vehicle like the Maverick is its armor. It is not made of ordinary steel. The structure is a welded ballistic steel monocoque, designed to provide maximum protection. The Maverick’s armor meets STANAG 4569 Level III protection standards.

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What Does This Mean in Practice? It means that the armor on the hull and windows can withstand multiple impacts from 7.62mm caliber rifle ammunition, the type of heavy weaponry often found in confrontation situations. Additionally, the hull’s “V” shape design at the bottom is a legacy from military vehicles, designed to deflect the energy from mine explosions or improvised explosive devices away from the crew cabin.

What Engine Powers the 13 Tons?

Weighing 13 tons and resistant to 7.62 rifle shots, the BOPE's armored 'Caveirão' can transport 11 police officers and pass through flaming barricades

Moving a vehicle that weighs, depending on the configuration, between 11 and 15 tons with the agility needed for a tactical operation requires an extremely powerful engine. The Maverick is equipped with a 6.7-liter Cummins, 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine, coupled with an automatic transmission.

This mechanical set generates the necessary power not only for transporting up to 11 armed police officers plus the driver and the commander, but also for overcoming obstacles. The vehicle’s engineering allows it to cross barricades, even on fire, and operate in degraded urban terrains with maximum efficiency.

Embedded Technology: The ‘Senses’ of the Fortress

Beyond brute strength, the Maverick features a series of technologies to enhance situational awareness and the team’s responsiveness.

Firing Ports: small openings in the armor that allow the crew to shoot from inside the vehicle safely.
Run-Flat Tires: the tires are designed to keep running for several kilometers even after being punctured by bullets, ensuring that the vehicle does not become immobilized in a risk zone.
Camera Systems: can be equipped with 360-degree cameras and thermal or night vision, allowing the team to observe the external environment without exposing themselves.
Armament Tower: features a hatch on the roof where a weapon station can be mounted for a shooter.

The Bottom Line: How Much Does a ‘Caveirão’ Cost?

The price of a tactical vehicle like this varies greatly depending on the level of armor, technological options, and the size of the purchase contract. However, based on bids and purchases made by state governments in Brazil, it is estimated that the cost of each unit of the Maverick armored vehicle ranges between R$ 1.5 million and R$ 2.5 million. It is a significant investment in technology, focused exclusively on the protection and operational capacity of security teams in extremely high-risk scenarios.

In your opinion, what is the most impressive technology embedded in a vehicle like the Maverick? And what is the role of advanced engineering in modern public safety?

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Weighing 13 Tons and Bulletproof Against 7.62 Rifle Fire, the BOPE Armored Vehicle ‘Caveirão’ Can Transport 11 Police Officers and Pass Through Burning Barricades

We Delved into the Engineering of the Maverick, the Fortress on Wheels Used by Elite Troops. Discover What Its Armor Is Made Of, What Engine Powers It, and How Much Technology It Carries to Survive in Conflict Zones.

‘The Armadillo’s Shell’: What Material Is the Armor Made Of?

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

What Engine Powers the 13 Tons?

Embedded Technology: The ‘Senses’ of the Fortress

The Bottom Line: How Much Does a ‘Caveirão’ Cost?

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Weighing 13 Tons and Bulletproof Against 7.62 Rifle Fire, the BOPE Armored Vehicle ‘Caveirão’ Can Transport 11 Police Officers and Pass Through Burning Barricades

We Delved into the Engineering of the Maverick, the Fortress on Wheels Used by Elite Troops. Discover What Its Armor Is Made Of, What Engine Powers It, and How Much Technology It Carries to Survive in Conflict Zones.

‘The Armadillo’s Shell’: What Material Is the Armor Made Of?

Major Oil, Gas, and Energy Event Will Take Place in Brazil: Macaé Energy Will Gather Petrobras, Equinor, Prio, Among Other Suppliers and Energy Executives for Business, Networking, and Employment Opportunities

What Engine Powers the 13 Tons?

Embedded Technology: The ‘Senses’ of the Fortress

The Bottom Line: How Much Does a ‘Caveirão’ Cost?

For 45 years, Spain and Morocco have been trying to connect Europe to Africa through a project of just 14 kilometers in the Strait of Gibraltar, and an active tectonic fault on the seabed continues to make the project nearly impossible.

At just 14 years old, a boy creates a system without energy, using steel pipes buried in the ground, that irrigates seedlings with moisture from the air, to combat the water scarcity threatening reforestation in northern China.

Where there was only sand and wind at 40 degrees, China built a megacity of 500,000 inhabitants with farms, wineries, and universities in the middle of the desert using melted glacier water from hundreds of kilometers away.

Brava Energia begins drilling in Papa-Terra and Atlanta and could change the game by reducing costs in oil while increasing production and strengthening competitiveness in the offshore market.

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It seems unbelievable, but there is a city where the sky stays dark for almost 2 months: the phenomenon occurs in Tromsø, in the far north of Norway, which goes weeks without seeing the sun.

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