During the Second World War the General Purpose vehicles 4x4 vulgarly known as jeeps became the workhorse of the regular US Army. At the end of that conflict the great amount of available jeeps lowered the acquisition cost of a second-hand transportation in many Armed Forces in the world. So a huge amount of these vehicles were used in missions of recognition and tactical liaison.

Although the natural limitations and simplicity, this vehicle has an amazing longevity. Some countries (between them the proper United States) had developed successors of the original vehicle, as the M107, wide used at the time of the Vietnam War. Eventually, the different Armed Forces had replaced this vehicle with more sophisticated, armored and bigger alternatives. These, as expected, are more expensive and more weighed.

In Brazil, Engesa developed the light reconnaissance vehicle Ee-3 Jararaca, with a combat weight of 5.800 kg, engine of 120 hp and 3 men crew. For different reasons the vehicle never was a commercial success. On the other hand, the Ee-9 Rattlesnake was a thundering success, and a considerable number serves in units of the Brazilian Army. Similar situation happened with the equally successful Ee-11 Urutu. However both vehicles are finishing its useful life and their maintenance is getting more expensive year after year.

The Replacement

To replace the Ee-9 and the Ee-11, the Brazilian Army elaborated a program for the attainment of the New Family of wheeled vehicles (NFBR), which involves:

Thus, the Brazilian Army intends to furnish itself with a 1,200 Light-Wheeled Armored Vehicles in different variants: reconnaissance, antitank, radar, command transport, artillery support and mortar carrier.

With 7,653 kg of weight, and a desirable range of 400km, the Light Wheeled SFBRL will have the configuration 4x4. Other mandatory requirements are that it must be able to be transported by C-130 and other similar aircraft, high all-terrain mobility, adequate ballistic protection, low silhouette, easiness of maintenance, etc. Other requirements are, by example the amphibious capability and fast engine-replacement.

The initial idea was to sign the contract in the beginning of 2002, with deliveries starting in 2005 and being concluded in 2010. Until the end of January of 2002, however, the Army confirmed just the Basic Operational Requirements for the new vehicle (Requisitos Operacionais Básicos-ROB), not having been emitted the official request for proposals (Letter of Interest-LOI).

The Brazilian IPD (Institute of Research and Development) presented in LAD 2001 a mockup of a 4x4 vehicle. However, due budget restrictions and to minimize the cost, it is probable that the supplier of these vehicles will be a foreign company working closely with the IPD in Brazil. The general idea is that the production takes place in Brazil (direct acquisition from a foreign vehicle only will occur only if there is not another alternative). It is probably that the partnership between the foreign manufacturer and a national company enable the production of components and/or assembly for the future maintenance program.

Some of these associations had been performed with good results during the last years. As examples we can remember the Steyr Industries (Austria) with Volkswagen-Brazil, and Iveco (Italy) with the Brazilian Fiat. Other foreign companies are investigating Brazilian Companies to study possible partnerships. Thus, Swiss MOWAG would be in contact with GM-Brazil, the Otokar Turk with Agrale, and Urovesa with Randon.

The Market

Some options that the Brazilian Army is considering are:

The Panhard VBL: Transportable in C-130, the VBL normally is presented in two basic configurations: reconnaissance (provided for two men and with a 12.7 mm machine gun) and anti-tank (provided for three men and armed with anti-tank missiles and a 7.62 mm machine gun). The VBL is amphibious (demanding only two minutes of preparation) and can reach the maximum speed of 4,5 km/h in calm waters. It has NBC protection, pressure tires regulation system and hydraulic direction. It can also, optionally, be endowed with air-conditioned.

The High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV): It is far the most famous 4x4 multi-purpose vehicle ever produced in recent times, and is available in some versions, of which the M1116 is most recent, of which 140,000 already had been more than produced for the United States and other countries. The variant most recent is the M1114 Enhanced Capacity Vehicle, endowed with a package of ballistic armor developed by the O'Gara Hess & Eisenhardt Armoring Company, to make front the 7.62 mm armor-piercing ammunition and the explosion of anti-vehicle mines designed to explode of up to 500 kg wheel pressure. A total of 1,700 units of this version already had been produced for the US Armed Forces; one was acquired by Eslovenia, 24 by Luxemburg and eight by Qatar. Carrying the driver and more three men, the HMMWV allows the installation of different armament, including machine guns (7,62 mm or 12,7 mm), antiaircraft guns of up to 30 mm, anti-vehicle missiles, etc. As other vehicles of the same class, the M1114 can be carried in the C-130, Ch-47 helicopters (one inside/two as external load), and Uh-60 (one as external load). The M1114 has a combat weight of 5.490 kg, and the standard equipment includes automatic transmission, air-conditioned and hydraulic transmission.

The Gaz-3937 Vodnik: This Russian vehicle is famous by its versatility and extreme rusticity, that, depending on some factors, can show an interesting option for Brazil. The Vodnik can be considered as a Russian equivalent of the Humvee, having been also produced at the same time. However, while the American vehicle immediately gained notoriety, the Russian vehicle was kept anonymous, making its first public appearance very later. The Vodnik project presents some interesting characteristics. The vehicle is divided in two modules: the front shelters the driver and a passenger, while in the back contains eight passengers or equipment. In combat, the back module can quickly be substituted by one of the 26 different modules, allowing the Vodnik a fast configuration change, optimizing itself for different tasks as transport of troops, multipurpose vehicle, transport, mortar carrier, etc. Another important detail is the amphibious capabilities of the vehicle, reaching a speed of 4 km/h in calm waters. The diesel engine speeds up the vehicle from zero to 100 km/h in just 20 seconds with a maximum speed of 112 km/h. In roads the autonomy is near the 1,000 km to a 60km/hrs. The Vodnik is produced by the Arzamas Machine Building Plant.

Eagle II: The Eagle II is produced by Swiss company manufacturer of the MOWAG 4x4. It is a vehicle based on the HMMWV chassis. The first 175 vehicles were delivered to the Swiss Army with the name of Eagle I, and the second lot of 175 vehicles was known as Eagle II and based in the Humvee. As other similar vehicles, Eagle II can use a variety of armament, even so normally is furnished with a 7,62 mm or 12,7 mm machine gun, NBC protection, ballistic protection, special bulletproof tires, air conditioner, etc. Eagle II has a combat weight of 5,100 kg, three men crew and is transportable by C-130 aircraft. It is currently being used by the Swiss Army and Denmark (36 units).

High Tactical Mobility Vehicle "VAMTAC": Similar to the Humvee, the Spanish VAMTAC is in the reality a total different project. The Spanish company UROVESA (Uro, Vehículos Especiales, S.A.) developed in 1996 a vehicle with similar external appearance to the HMMWV. Despite the form, both vehicles are complete different. The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctica), is a 4x4 vehicle capable to carry a useful load from 1,500 kg in any terrain. The vehicle, already commercialized in Spain, Asia and Central America, can be carried by a C-130 aircraft (inside) and Ch-47 helicopters (as external load). The armament can vary according the mission, and includes 7,62 mm and 12.7 mm machine guns, anti-vehicle missiles, etc. It can carry 12 men crew

The Cougar: The Cougar is a product of the Consortium Iveco Fiat-OtoMelara, and is offered in two variants: 4x4 and 6x6. The first archetype was ready in 1988. The Italian army placed orders for 580 units (250 in the configuration 6x6 and 330 of the version 4x4), with deliveries between 2001 and 2004. As other vehicles of its category, the Cougar can be equipped with 7,62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns or, alternatively, with antiaircraft or antitank missiles and. In 2001, the European Consortium requested the General Staff of the Brazilian Army the operational evaluation of the Cougar Wheeled Armored Vehicle, in the configuration 4x4. The EME received the order and placed the task to the Secretariat of Science and Technology and the Army Evaluation Center, that will count on the support of the Instruction of Tank Center and the 15th Tank Regiment. The Vbr-lr Cougar was received in the center on July 26th 2001. It is possible that the 6x6 version could also be sent for the same evaluation.

The Centauro is the medium weight version 8x8 armed with a 105mm gun.