Brigadeiro Velloso Testing Range Air Base (Cachimbo Airport)

Brigadeiro Velloso Testing Range (Campo de Provas Brigadeiro Velloso - CPBV) is located in the Serra do Cachimbo region of southern Pará, Brazil. The complex spans 21,588 km² across the municipalities of Altamira, Itaituba, Jacareacanga, and Novo Progresso. Established on January 20, 1954, the facility was founded by Air Force Brigadier Haroldo Coimbra Velloso to serve as a support airfield for aircraft transitioning between the Northern and Southeast regions of Brazil.

Between 1975 and 1990, the Brazilian Armed Forces utilized the complex as a weapons testing center. During this period, the site was used for a nuclear weapons development program, which included the construction of a 1,000-foot steel-reinforced concrete shaft intended for underground testing. The facility was formally decommissioned for nuclear research in 1990.

The Brazilian Air Force operates the complex, which includes Cachimbo Airport. The site functions as a military testing range and a logistics hub. Current infrastructure includes accommodations for 240 military personnel and a hospital that provides medical services to both service members and the local civilian population. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources also maintains a research facility within the perimeter of the range.