Centauro II wins in Brazil – Iveco
The Brazilian Army has selected the Centauro II produced by a Leonardo and Iveco consortium to fulfill its requirement for armored vehicles. The contract is reportedly worth up to EUR2 billion ($2.08 billion).
Officially designated the Wheeled Armored Medium Cavalry Vehicle (Viatura Blindada de Cavalaria Média Sobre Rodas, or VBC Cav – MSR 8×8), the Brazilian variant will be outfitted with a 120mm armament rather than the originally reported 105mm configuration. Although order quantities have not yet been officially announced, Brazil has previously outlined plans to acquire 98 vehicles by 2038 and 220 in total.
According to Forecast International’s International Military Markets – Latin America & Caribbean, the team – doing business as Società Consortile Iveco – Oto Melara (CIO) – beat competing designs from General Dynamics Land Systems, offering the LAV 700 with a Cockerill turret; Hanwha with its Tigon; NORINCO, offering the ST-1; Ares-Elbit Systems, offering its Eitan; and Tata Motors with the Kestrel.
