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The dismantling of the Brazilian Armed Forces exposes serious structural flaws. The Navy lacks a sufficient fleet, the Army has obsolete armored vehicles and the FAB has few aircraft, leaving Brazil vulnerable in a war scenario. Will the country be able to defend its territorial sovereignty?
In a country of continental dimensions, where territorial vastness should be synonymous with power and security, the reality of Brazilian Armed Forces paints an alarming picture.
Behind the appearance of a peaceful nation, a disturbing truth lies: Brazil is unprepared to face a large-scale armed conflict.
Decades of controversial decisions, budget cuts and poorly executed projects have left our military in a critical state.
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According to Military Society Magazine, analysts point out that the scrapping of the Brazilian Armed Forces becomes more evident every year.
With a territory of 8,5 million square kilometers, Brazil would not have sufficient armed forces to defend its own territory in the event of war.
Navy: a rusty giant
The Brazilian Navy, responsible for protecting one of the largest coastlines in the world, faces significant challenges.
It recently announced the retirement of 40% of its fleet, decommissioning almost half of its vessels.
Among the remaining assets, the helicopter carrier Atlântico, the landing ship Bahia and the modern submarines in the integration phase stand out.
However, experts consider these resources insufficient for adequate naval defense.
Strategic errors also contributed to the current situation.
The acquisition of the aircraft carrier São Paulo, which became scrap without fulfilling its function, and the investments in the obsolete A-4 Skyhawk fighters, out of production since the 1970s, are examples of poorly used resources.
According to experts, in a current conflict scenario, a large part of the Navy's 80 soldiers would act on land, supporting the Army, due to the lack of operational naval resources.
Air Force: modern but insufficient
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) is considered the most organized and technologically advanced of the country's armed forces.
The acquisition of F-39 Gripen fighters, equipped with long-range Meteor missiles, in addition to aircraft such as the KC-390 and E-99, represents a significant advance.
However, the limited number of these aircraft is a cause for concern.
Analysts suggest that Brazil would need at least 200 fighter jets and a larger fleet of transport aircraft such as the KC-390 to ensure robust air defense.
Currently, the FAB does not reach these numbers, which overloads operations.
The Gripen, for example, accumulates interception, ground attack and maritime patrol functions, compromising its efficiency.
Another critical point is the absence of medium and long-range air defense systems.
Recent acquisitions have been limited to Gepard cannons and RBS-70 and Igla systems, all of which are short-range and incapable of neutralizing threats at high altitudes.
It's like trying to protect a house with low fences while the burglar enters through the roof.
Army: the scrapping of the armored force
The Brazilian Army faces serious structural problems, especially in its armored force. The main battle tanks, the Leopard 1A5, have been outdated for years.
Obtaining parts for maintenance has become a saga, as the model has been out of production for decades.
Furthermore, the use of biodiesel in engines, an attempt to reduce costs, resulted in frequent breakdowns, worsening the situation.
The alternative would be to rely on light armored vehicles, such as the Cascavel and Guarani, which do not have the capacity to face modern tanks in combat.
The shortage of attack helicopters also leaves armored vehicles more vulnerable.
These aircraft, equipped with cannons, anti-tank missiles and rockets, are crucial to a defense strategy, but are insufficient in Brazil.
Logistics is another serious problem. The reduction in the acquisition of KC-390 aircraft by the FAB makes it difficult to quickly transport troops and equipment around the country, a fundamental task in a territory of continental dimensions.
Controversies and lack of planning
The current state of the Brazilian Armed Forces is not a coincidence. Military management has been marked by questionable choices and a chronic dependence on insufficient budgets.
Expensive and prestigious projects were prioritized, but ended up proving impractical.
The case of the aircraft carrier São Paulo is emblematic: acquired as a symbol of power, it was never fully functional and ended up as scrap.
Likewise, the A-4 Skyhawks, purchased for the Aviation Naval, are obsolete and ineffective in a modern warfare scenario.
Furthermore, the political involvement of the Armed Forces in recent years has brought further criticism.
During the Bolsonaro government, military influence grew considerably, but did not result in improvements to troops or equipment.
The budget remained limited, and many question whether the military presence in government was used more for political purposes than to strengthen national defense.
Given this scenario, it is clear that, in the event of a conflict, Brazil would depend more on luck than on strategy to defend itself. And this, in the current context, is simply unacceptable.
