Image Source: topwar.ru
The Brazilian company IDV LATAM, based on the proposal of the Italian consortium Iveco-Oto Melara, invited the national command to consider the possibility of purchasing a promising light tank with a 120-mm cannon.
As indicated in the local edition of Tecnologia & Defesa, the new tracked vehicle will have a high degree of unification with the Centauro II BR 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle (VBC Cav), including the use of the Leonardo HITFACT Mk2 turret and the FPT V20 engine. The production of both of these components can be deployed at our own facilities. At the same time, it is still unclear on which chassis it is planned to build a light tank.
Sketch of a light tank from IDV LATAM with a HITFACT Mk2 turret:
Image Source: topwar.ru
According to the manufacturer, the HITFACT Mk2 combat compartment has already been installed on more than 500 armored vehicles.:
Performance characteristics of the HITFACT Mk2 combat compartment:
Image source: topwar.ru
The proposal for a light tank did not arise out of thin air. In January, the Brazilian army began the process of purchasing 65 heavy tanks (to replace the Leopard 1A5 and M60) and 78 infantry fighting vehicles. Among the announced requirements for MBT are a turret equipped with a 120 mm cannon, an auxiliary 7.62mm machine gun and a 7.62 or 12.7 mm anti–aircraft machine gun, a tracked chassis and a range of 400 km. One of the latest requirements was the weight of the tank – less than 50 tons.
The publication reports that Germany has offered 65 of the 68 Leopard 2A6 units in the Bundeswehr warehouses.:
It should also be taken into account that the mass of 2A6 is 62.3 tons, that is, it exceeds the threshold value set by the tender of 50 tons. However, not only Leopard, but also other Western tanks will not be able to meet this figure. Therefore, in fact, we are talking about the purchase of a light or medium tank. Against this background, IDV LATAM's proposal to create a corresponding machine arose, which was supported by the Tecnologia & Defesa columnist.:
