Brazil Army
The Brazilian Army fields 2,527 active armoured vehicles and artillery systems in 2026 โ 292 main battle tanks, 1,217 armoured personnel carriers, 411 light armoured vehicles, 48 protected mobility vehicles, 109 self-propelled guns, 412 towed artillery pieces, 38 rocket launchers. It ranks #34 of 90 armies on the ARMS Index, with 1,432 on order.
Full inventory in 2026
14 equipment types| Equipment | Variant | Active | Stored | Ordered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | |||||
|
Leopard 1 | A1BE/A5BR | 261 | โ | โ |
|
M60A3 TTS | โ | 31 | โ | โ |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | |||||
| EE-11 Urutu | M2/M6 | 46 | โ | โ | |
|
M113 | A1/BR/A2 | 596 | โ | โ |
| VBTP-MR Guarani | โ | 575 | โ | +1,005 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | |||||
|
Centauro II | Centauro II BR | 2 | โ | +7 |
|
EE-9 Cascavel | โ | 409 | โ | โ |
| Protected Mobility Vehicle | |||||
|
VBMT-LSR Guaicurus | โ | 48 | โ | +420 |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | |||||
|
M109 | A3/A5/A5+ | 109 | โ | โ |
| Towed Artillery | |||||
|
L118 | โ | 40 | โ | โ |
|
M101/M102 | โ | 231 | โ | โ |
|
M114 | โ | 81 | โ | โ |
|
OTO Melara Mod 56 | โ | 60 | โ | โ |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | |||||
|
Astros II | โ | 38 | โ | โ |
Overview
The Brazilian Army, or Exรฉrcito Brasileiro, is organized under the Land Operations Command and structured into eight regional Military Commands: Amazon, Northern, Northeastern, Western, Planalto, Southeastern, Southern, and Eastern. Tactical formations include army divisions and specialized brigades, comprising armored, mechanized cavalry, jungle warfare, parachutist, airmobile, and special operations forces. Command headquarters and garrisons are located in Brasรญlia, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, and Curitiba. State military police forces function as auxiliary reserves to the land forces under constitutional provisions.
Armored formations operate Leopard 1A5BR and M60A3 TTS main battle tanks alongside M113 tracked armored personnel carriers. Mechanized units field Guarani 6x6 armored personnel carriers, EE-11 Urutu vehicles, and LMV Guaicurus 4x4 light multipurpose vehicles. Armored reconnaissance units utilize EE-9 Cascavel 6x6 vehicles. Field artillery units operate M109 self-propelled howitzers, L118 Light Guns, M114 towed howitzers, and ASTROS II multiple launch rocket systems. Air defense assets include Gepard 1A2 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns alongside RBS 70 and Igla-S man-portable air defense systems. Army aviation operates HA-1 Fennec, HM-1 Pantera, HM-3 Cougar, HM-4 Black Hawk, and H225M Caracal helicopters for attack, utility, and transport missions.
Force modernization focuses on the Armored Forces program. Deliveries include additional Guarani 6x6 amphibious armored vehicles and LMV Guaicurus 4x4 platforms. The army is inducting the Centauro II 8x8 armored combat vehicle equipped with a 120 mm gun to replace legacy wheeled fire-support vehicles, alongside an upgrade program for the Cascavel fleet integrating modernized fire control systems and MAX 1.2 AC anti-tank missiles. Field artillery acquisition programs include the selection of ATMOS 155 mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers and development of the AV-TM 300 cruise missile for the ASTROS system. Medium-range air defense capabilities are expanding through the procurement of the EMADS missile system.
Operational missions emphasize border security, environmental protection, and national sovereignty enforcement across frontier regions. Under Operation Roraima, ground forces maintain deployments along the northern border with Venezuela and Guyana to monitor regional border disputes and mitigate cross-border instability. Formations in the Amazon region execute counter-illegal mining and anti-trafficking operations, including Operation Yanomami. The army also conducts joint mirrored patrols with neighboring states such as Guyana and executes domestic law-and-order operations when mandated by federal authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many armoured vehicles does Brazil have?
How many tanks does Brazil have?
How much artillery does Brazil have?
How does Brazil's army rank globally?
How many active soldiers does Brazil have?
- SEP 232026 Updated VBMT-LSR Guaicurus reclassified as protected mobility; Centauro II, EE-11 Urutu and OTO Melara Mod 56 added
- SEP 232026 Updated Guaicurus (VBMT-LSR) linked to its Iveco LMV page
- MAR 242026 Updated 11 vehicle types added