The prototype of the Cascavel NG (New Generation) armored reconnaissance vehicle was presented on Wednesday (29) during a meeting of the Army High Command in Brasília (DF). The ceremony was attended by the army’s commander, General Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva.
The revitalization of the Cascavel represents an important milestone for Brazil’s sovereignty, expanding the operational capacity of the Armed Forces with state-of-the-art resources. It is part of the Strategic Armored Forces Program, which aims to transform the armored vehicle into a fundamental and highly technological part of the Brazilian Army’s arsenal.
The project is being carried out by the Força Terrestre consortium, led by Akaer (Strategic Defense Company), in close collaboration with the EB, through the Manufacturing Directorate.
New configuration
The Cascavel NG prototype was presented with all the modifications to the automotive platform, including the replacement of the engine and automatic gearbox with more powerful versions, the installation of air conditioning, a new braking system and a command for adjusting tire pressure on all types of terrain.
The turret’s rotation and the 90mm cannon’s elevation were given joystick control, and the armored vehicle’s security was improved with the implementation of an anti-tank missile launcher system.
In the optronics package, one of the advances was the installation of four situational cameras for the driver, one at the front, two at the sides and one at the rear, as well as periscopes and night vision. For the gunner and commander, the new vehicle offers a daytime camera, thermal vision and laser rangefinder. The armored vehicle has also been fitted with a spotting scope that allows for 4 to 12 times magnification.
All the equipment is integrated with a new firing computer, responsible for carrying out all the ballistic calculations, providing a significant increase in firing accuracy (with information made available on a 10.9′ display for each of the crew members).
According to Lieutenant-Colonel Fábio Musetti de Souza, the project supervisor, “the modernization of the Cascavel represents an important technological advance for Military Engineering and the Mechanized Forces” in Brazil.
“It’s a complex engineering activity that, in close cooperation with the Defense Industrial Base, demonstrates the importance of developing new technologies for the country,” he said.
The Rattlesnake modernization project is on schedule with the Brazilian Army.
Akaer
With a solid 31-year track record, Akaer is internationally recognized for developing cutting-edge technologies in the areas of Defense, Aerospace, Energy and Industry 4.0, establishing businesses in more than 20 countries.
It was named one of the most innovative companies in Brazil in the last three editions of the National Innovation Award, granted by CNI (National Confederation of Industry) in recognition of the country’s best practices. Akaer is headquartered in São José dos Campos (SP) and has commercial offices in Portugal and Turkey.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***