TSAMTO, July 4. The procedure for the purchase of 30 armored vehicles with an 8x8 wheel formula for the Peruvian Ground Forces has entered the final phase.
As reported by Defensa.com, potential applicants must submit their proposals by July 14. The purchase is carried out directly by the Ground Forces in the format of an intergovernmental agreement with the application of Directive DIR-DEC-005: "The process of purchasing goods and services under the interstate model" dated March 3, 2023 under the programs "Acquisition of wheeled armored vehicles for the 3rd Armored Brigade of the Ground Forces" (code No. 2519572) and "Acquisition of wheeled armored vehicles vehicles for the 6th Armored Brigade of the Ground Forces" (code number 2519572).
According to the information Defensa.com On June 28, the Evaluation Commission (CETO) sent "final rules of the procurement procedure" to several manufacturing companies through the relevant embassies, which contain information on the acquisition procedure and technical requirements for the BBM. It is assumed that the winning country will be announced on July 14 after opening envelopes with proposals.
The process has already caused a number of critical comments and questions of various kinds related to the format of the intergovernmental agreement used, which, according to statements, is cumbersome and extremely slow. Also, the cooperation agreement signed by the armament company of the Army of FAME SAC (Fabrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejercito) with Optimum Vehicles Logistics / FNSS Savunma Sistemleri AS on "Assembly, joint production, maintenance and commercialization of wheeled and tracked vehicles", under which joint production can be organized in Peru, will not be taken into account. BBM with a wheel formula of 8x8. There are also rumors that the winner of the tender has actually already been determined.
In connection with the latter, it is worth mentioning a report published in April by the South Korean portal The Korea Economy Daily that Hyundai Rotem, which offers a modified version of the K808 BMP through the STX corporation, has already signed a contract for the sale of BBM to the Armed Forces of Peru. Representatives of the Peruvian Ground Forces then said Defensa.com that this information is not correct, since the Evaluation Commission has not yet published its report and has not sent official invitations to bidders.
As reported by TSAMTO, in April 2023, the Ministry of Defense of Peru allocated an additional 238.8 million sols (about $ 60 million) to the budget of the Ground Forces for the purchase of 30 armored vehicles with an 8x8 wheel formula.
It is assumed that 18 BBM with the 8x8 wheel formula will be purchased for the 3rd Armored Brigade (Moquegua) and 12 units for the 6th Armored Brigade (Tacna).
Both projects are part of the Pacha Kuyuchix program, which provides for the purchase of a total of 120 armored vehicles with an 8x8 wheel formula. Initially, it was planned to purchase 301 BBMs of this type: 178 APCs and 123 IFVs to replace, among other things, the obsolete Unimog UR-416 and FIAT-Oto Melara 6614-G and 6616-H (4x4). However, due to budget cuts in recent years, the order has been reduced to 120 armored personnel carriers.
