For more than a decade, the Argentine Army has had plans to incorporate a Wheeled Armored Combat Vehicle (VCBR), initially intended, according to the Military Capabilities Plan (PLANCAMIL), to equip a Mechanized Brigade. This brigade would primarily consist of infantry fighting vehicles and personnel carriers, with a few vehicles equipped with high-performance cannons for its cavalry regiment. For obvious budgetary reasons, the realization of these plans has been indefinitely postponed.
In 2011, a commission of specialists from the Argentine Army traveled to Europe to visit and observe the main wheeled combat vehicles in service or development. These included the French VBCI, the German Boxer, the Austrian PANDUR 2 (in 6×6 and 8×8 versions), the Swiss Mowag Piranha III, and the Italian Freccia.
The latter, which became the commission’s favorite, was a derivative of the Centauro (an 8×8 armed with a powerful 105 mm cannon that fired the same ammunition as the TAM), which was ultimately discarded. Among the reasons cited were that Italy was its only user, unlike the other vehicles that had been acquired by numerous countries (it is worth mentioning the Swiss Piranha, which, along with its American LAV and Stryker versions, is used by more than 45 countries).
In 2012, the 6×6 Guarani, produced in Brazil by IVECO and whose powertrain is produced in Argentina, was also evaluated. It was expected that an 8×8 version armed with a 105 mm cannon would be developed to replace the Cascabels in the Brazilian army’s mechanized units. However, the Brazilian army ultimately decided to acquire nearly a hundred CENTAURO II vehicles armed with 120 mm cannons.
In 2015, the Chinese company NORINCO offered its latest 8×8 model, the VN1, a vehicle equivalent to the Mowag Piranha and the Stryker, with a wide range of versions to meet different needs. At that time, however, the Austrian PANDUR (in 8×8 combat versions and 6×6 versions for functions that did not require high mobility, such as ambulance and command post) was the favorite. The relationship with the Chinese government, the price, and the financing conditions brought the possibility of an agreement with China for its acquisition and local assembly closer. The change of government in December 2015 and the consequent change in international policy sidelined the possibility of finalizing the deal.
Between 2017 and 2019, unsuccessful attempts were made to acquire some Pandur 2 vehicles, even considering the American version of the Piranha, the previously mentioned Stryker, with an offer for both new and refurbished vehicles. However, their acquisition prices were prohibitive (without specifying their operational costs once received).
Between 2021 and 2023, the possibility of incorporating the Iveco Guarani resurfaced. Then Defense Minister Jorge Taiana signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Brazil for the incorporation of more than one hundred of these vehicles in various versions (although no version armed with a 105 mm or higher cannon was available).
The Guarani was a politically useful solution, as it was a neutral option. There was no opposition from the United States or China to its acquisition, it strengthened ties and interoperability with Brazil, and the fact that part of its components were manufactured in the country implied significant logistical facilities and resource savings.
In 2023, a Guarani was subjected to an intense technical-operational evaluation (ETO) for over a month in different geographical environments by the Argentine Army, passing all the tests it was subjected to. Various causes prevented its realization, although it is considered that the possibility of financing by Brazil was the main factor.
An additional advantage of the Guarani is that its communications, command and control equipment, night vision, weapon systems, threat alert systems, and more are from the Israeli company Elbit and are the same used in the TAM 2C-A2, the Medium Argentine Tank undergoing modernization. The logistical, training advantages, and essentially the cost reduction due to a larger acquisition scale are notable points for the Brazilian vehicle.
Due to Brazil’s reluctance to finance, Elbit itself proposed acquiring the vehicles and managing an international loan financed by Israeli banks, but the Argentine government rejected this option without concrete reasons.
In the first quarter of 2023, a proposal was received from General Dynamics, which included the sale of 8 used LAV 25 vehicles surplus to the New Zealand army (manufactured in 2003-05, out of a total of 30, of which 22 were purchased by the Chilean marine infantry), as well as the local assembly of the necessary Strykers for the wheeled Brigade. The proposal was rejected as negotiations for the Guarani advanced.
To date, Argentina has yet to define what its future wheeled armored combat vehicle will be. The first question remains whether to opt for an 8×8 or a 6×6. Each option has advantages and disadvantages that need to be carefully weighed based on our needs, without any preconceived intention in selecting one option.
In general terms, an 8×8 option could offer greater mobility, carrying capacity in terms of personnel or weapon systems, and greater protection. Its disadvantages lie in its higher acquisition, operation, and maintenance costs. Its larger dimensions make transportation difficult, and in all cases, versions that do not require that many axles (ambulance, command post, mortar carrier, CBRN reconnaissance, workshop, etc.) impose the purchase of an oversized platform in terms of costs.
The 6×6 option, although seemingly having less off-road mobility, is usually more economical to acquire, operate, and maintain, which is very important for resource-scarce armed forces like ours. Additionally, unlike the considered 8×8 vehicles, it is transportable in a C-130H Hercules, a factor to consider if these vehicles are to be deployed in peacekeeping military operations.
France, a country with extensive experience in the design and use of wheeled armored vehicles, has selected the Griffon and Jaguar, both 6×6, as its future armored vehicles. Additionally, despite the VBCI 8×8, it has been using the AMX10 RC with a 105 mm cannon, the VAB for infantry, and the ERC 90, all 6×6, for decades.
The Finnish company Patria has just offered the German Army a very modern 6×6 for the CAVS program, aimed at replacing its Fuchs vehicle. Austria is incorporating 450 Pandur 2s in 6×6 versions. The preference is not defined for anyone, and armies with more resources will be able to complement them (especially if they belong to the same family).
But what are the candidates?
NZLAV
Firstly, the offer for the 8 New Zealand LAV 25 model 2003 is known. These have a gyro-stabilized turret (with thermal sights) with a 25 mm cannon (caliber not used in the country), are amphibious, and are in good maintenance condition. A package of spare parts, ammunition, and training was offered, but the big question that arises is whether the Ministry of Defense is willing to acquire only 8 vehicles of this type, without additional purchases planned, opening different logistics lines for the vehicle that would complete the Wheeled Brigade. It goes without saying that their targeting systems, night vision cameras for the driver, and other systems were designed and manufactured over 2 decades ago and are no longer produced (although there are superior systems to replace them). Their small number would prevent equipping a mechanized infantry company, considered the minimum element for deployment in a peacekeeping operation under the United Nations.
M1126 Stryker
The Stryker is combat-proven and serves in numerous armed forces. It stands out for its outstanding mobility and versatility. There are several versions, including one with a 105 mm automatic loading cannon. However, it should be noted that the US ARMY withdrew this version from service as it was considered ineffective and costly. The potential purchase of the Stryker would require finding a different fire support version. With the Guarani purchase not completed in 2023, the American Stryker is favorably positioned in terms of the new relationship with the United States.
It is a vehicle equipped with advanced technology (like any of the other considered vehicles), and several considerations would need to be made. Firstly, its high acquisition cost compared to the other proposed vehicles.
In many news portals, there were biased notes trying to tilt the balance in favor of this model, even some mentioning an incredibly low price. The reality is that, in the last offer received in 2019, for 27 vehicles armed with 12.7 mm manually operated machine guns (today it is inconceivable not to use a remotely operated turret on an armored vehicle), the price of each ranged between US$ 3.3 million and 3.6 million depending on whether they were refurbished or newly manufactured. The price included integrated logistical support (ILS) associated with the warranty period, Harris communication systems, thermal sights for the driver, and training courses.
Some will argue that the LAV and the Stryker share the same base (the Mowag Piranha 3 from which they originate and which is a product of General Dynamics Europe), but the reality is that there are minor differences that do not make them fully compatible. The Stryker is offered for sale worldwide, in 2 different models, both newly manufactured and refurbished. These are the flat-bottomed (original model) and the double V-hull, i.e., with additional protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a product of the experience in Afghanistan that costed so many lives.
The main advantages of the Stryker are its mobility, versatility, and spread. Its main disadvantages: high acquisition and operating costs, logistical and training incompatibility with the modernized TAM (and eventually with the rest of the TAM family vehicles to be modernized, especially the VCTP), and its major disadvantage, it is not amphibious. This might be a minor limitation, but the reality is that Argentine territory is crossed by countless rivers and streams, and there are no crossing means in quantity and quality according to the needs.
Furthermore, the acquisition of a weapons system and, in particular, a VCBR should meet the needs of other forces, in this case, the Argentine Marine Corps, whose need to replace their LVTP7 and Panhard urgently requires amphibious capability. The acquisition of a non-amphibious vehicle by the army would force the Marine Corps to acquire a different vehicle, losing interoperability between both forces in this matter, in addition to incorporating different logistical systems.
Iveco Guarani 6×6
The Iveco Guarani 6×6 has regained relevance due to a supposed proposal made by Iveco, which would include financing from Brazilian banks. The offer would include the possibility of increasing local production of certain components, including the remotely operated Remax weapon system. This vehicle impressed the military very well during its evaluation. It is a fairly well-known vehicle from its participation in the Combined Exercises ARANDÚ, in which it interacted with TAM and VCTP of the army without issues.
Its technology is very advanced and incorporates many commercial components that are even produced in the country (powertrain). Its incorporation would allow for closer military integration with Brazil. It basically incorporates anti-mine floor and seats, internal Kevlar armor, and its night vision systems, shooting, fire protection, laser threat detectors, and communication equipment are the same as those of the modernized TAM, as already mentioned.
Although it is not a cheap vehicle, its price is lower than the Stryker, as are the associated logistical and operating costs. It has several versions equivalent to the US VCBR and others are in development for the Brazilian Army. One of its main advantages is its amphibious capability and, in fact, the same vehicle was going to be acquired by the Marine Corps. It is noted that the financing offer from Israel has been withdrawn, although its products are still present in various components and subsystems.
Finally, the Pandur II appears
An Israeli company has made an offer for nine 8×8 vehicles completed in 2023 (which a customer did not acquire due to budgetary reasons) at a convenient price and fully equipped with the same systems as the 6×6 Guarani, with the resulting logistical and training advantages with their counterparts in the TAM family. In 6×6 and 8×8 versions, the Pandur has a complete family of vehicles to meet the needs of the Argentine Army and the Marine Corps. It has amphibious capability, and as with the previous vehicles, there is the possibility of local assembly.
Since manufacturers make intense efforts to sell their products and place the Argentine flag among their customers, it would be important to conduct a thorough analysis of the proposals and complete field tests in our country for both the Pandur and the Stryker, given that the Guarani has already passed them.
It would be advisable to invite the different manufacturers to present their products, make them compete in the country under the same conditions in which their crews and soldiers will use them, listen to their payment and credit offers, and fundamentally, decide based on WHAT THE ARMED FORCES REALLY NEED.
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