Posted on 04/17/2013 10:30:32 AM PDT by JerseyanExile
Brazil will buy 34 1A2 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks from Germany to provide security at World Youth Day and major sporting events, officials said Thursday.
The tanks are likely to be used when Brazil hosts the World Cup next year and the 2016 Olympic Games. A Defense Ministry statement said the contract would be signed in the coming days with the total value still under negotiation.
The used, 47.5-tonne tanks, which were upgraded in 2010 and fitted with new radar systems, will be able to operate until 2030, the G1 news website quoted anti-aircraft artillery brigade chief General Marcio Roland Heise as saying.
Eight of the armored vehicles are to be delivered before June and will be used during World Youth Day, the Catholic youth fest that Pope Francis plans to attend in Rio in July.
"I want all troops to be ready and trained to use this new (anti-aircraft) system at the opening and closing of the Confederations Cup and during the pope's visit to protect those who will be in stadiums," Heise said.
The other tanks are to be delivered by 2015.
Rio is hosting Latin America's biggest defense trade fair this week.
South Africa's privately-owned Paramount Group, which is attending the LAAD Defense and Security expo, signed a contract with Rio de Janeiro state for the sale of eight police armored vehicles that will be delivered by December.
The vehicles will also be used to protect the World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Anti-aircraft...hmmmmmm..strange
In WWII the German 88 was originally an anti-aircraft gun, but was adapted to other uses.
do you think they are “expecting” something?
The Gepard (cheetah) self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was developed as a private venture in 1960s. First prototypes were built in 1968. It entered service with the Bundeswehr in 1973 as the Flakpanzer-1 Gepard. A total of 420 of these vehicles were built for the German Army. It’s role is to protect combat units, troops and key installations against air attacks. The Gepard is currently in service with Germany, Chile, Jordan, Romania and the Netherlands.
Vehicle is fitted with twin Oerlikon GDF 35-mm guns. These guns are belt-fed. Maximum rate of fire for a single gun is 550 rounds per minute. Ammunition load of the Gepard consists of 640 armor-piercing-incendiary rounds for firing against air targets and 40 armor-piercing rounds against ground targets.
General search radar is located at the rear of the turret roof and tracking radar is located between the guns. Vehicle is fitted with friend-or-foe identification system. Radar of the Gepard has a range of 15 km. It provides all-round scanning with simultaneous target tracking. Vehicle has search on the move capability. This SPAAG is also fitted with fire control system.
Hull of the Gepard provides protection against small caliber cannons, while turret protection is only against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. It is also fitted with NBC protection system.
The Gepard has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.
Vehicle is based on the chassis of the Leopard 1 main battle tank. It is powered by the MTU MB Ca M500 diesel engine, developing 830 horsepower. The Gepard is fitted with auxiliary power unit, which powers all systems when the main engine is turned off. Engine and transmission of the Gepard can be replaced in 20 minutes in field conditions.
Variants
Gepard 1A2, upgraded variant with new fire control system. It has increased range and reduced reaction time. The Gepard 1A2 also uses new ammunition;
Gepard CA1, Dutch variant fitted with different radar.
-Military Today
Doubtful. I suspect that the Brazilians are simply trying to upgrade their land-based air defenses, which currently consist of nothing more than a few dozen aging towed guns and shoulder-fired missiles. They’re planning to purchase some modern air-defense vehicles from Russia, SA-22s, and perhaps the Gepards are meant to serve as temporary substitutes or to complement them.
(NO. This is not my favorite scene from SPR.)
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