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CMS Doctrinal Journey - The Future of RCB in Discussion
Between 18 to 22 June, AEL Systems participated in the seminar CMS Doctrinal Journey, conducted by the South Military Command (CMS), in order to discuss the future vehicle to be adopted by their three Armored Cavalry Regiments (RCB) discussing the tactics characteristics that the vehicle must have in order to perform the tasks under the responsibility of the unit Shock Brigade Mechanized Cavalry.
The mystique of the cavalry advancing the Pampas Gauchos - Armored Training Center
Currently, the Brazilian Army (EB) has four RCB, three of them in Rio Grande do Sul (4th RCB in São Luiz Gonzaga; 6th RCB in Alegrete, and 9th RCB in San Gabriel), and one in Mato Grosso do Sul (20th RCB in Campo Grande), this subordinated to Western Military Command (BMC).
With the Leopard 1A5 BR program, the EB planned to standardize its fleet of tanks (CC) with German armored Leopard 1 as the new 1A5 would equip Vehicles Combat Regiments (RCC). The 1BE (known as the EB Leopard 1A1), would be transferred to the RCB and the M60A3 TTS would be written off. However, due to rapid obsolescence and ineffectiveness of Leopard 1BE, whose operation was restricted to a few dozen, not enough to equip four RCB, the plans had to be changed. It was thought to decrease the number of armored RCC in order to compose the RCB with 1A5, but the contractual requirements of maintaining these vehicles set with Krauss-Maffei Wegman (KMW), made this feasible. The solution was to keep running 28 M60A3 TTS DC, at 20th RCB and equip the South RCB with 36 Leopard 1Be (12 for each).
The problem for the CMS, and the reduced number of vehicles in the units is the low availability by poor condition of the vehicles, as well as the inability to obtain spare parts, especially in the stabilization system Cannon (SABCA model, which equipped Leopard only one used in Belgium).
Thus, the EB has allocated a budget of £ 2 million for the revitalization of these DC, to be able to maintain a minimal degree of operability. However, it became evident that this amount is insufficient for the recovery of the 36 armored, because individual was budgeted cost of $ 200 thousand. The seminar discussed the difficulties regarding Leopard 1BE and how best to take advantage of those resources. Moreover, on day 20, the third day of the event, KMW has presented four proposals that have not failed to amaze:
1st. Purchasing a lot of KMW Boxer armored 8X8, equipped with 105mm cannon, which was refused by the fact that the vehicle is understand the RCB should be tracked;
2nd. Acquiring a lot of CC Leopard 2A4, secondhand, and recovered by KMW, along the lines of 1A5, which would be transferred to the RCC, whereas 1A5 pass for RCB. This was also declined by almost unanimous vote, due to high operating costs and the dimensions of these vehicles;
3rd. Acquiring another batch of 120 Leopard 1A5 CC, secondhand, half coming from the still existing inventories in Germany (information that caused surprise because theoretically not exist anymore) and the rest of a third country (probably Greece, Italy or Turkey) that would also be recovered by KMW, like today. This offer was more than pleased;
4th. More surprisingly, the joint development between KMW and EB, similar to PFBMR, and manufacturing, in Santa Maria, a new family of armored tracked, including a CC medium (40/45 tons) equipped with a 105mm cannon, which would have a high degree of community pieces with the Leopard 1. To better illustrate slides were presented on a similar proposal submitted last.
Despite several ideas and conclusions have been drawn from these five days, it should be remembered that this seminar was created by an operational command and not the manager. Therefore, the conclusions emanating from there does not have the weight of a decision, taking only the discussions to a wider sphere, presenting solutions. It´s wait and see what the future will bring.
Por: Helio Higuchi e Paulo Roberto Bastos