The armies of Argentina and Brazil presented last week in Brazil the first prototype of a military vehicle made together by the two countries.
The vehicle, which takes the name of Gaucho and is formally called Light Aero-transportable General Use Prototype, will be used by the military forces of Brazil and Argentina.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Vice President José Alencar saw the car last week at the Presidential Palace, in the Brazilian capital city Brasília.
At the occasion, general Francisco Roberto de Albuquerque highlighted the importance of scientific and technological exchange between the Brazilian and Argentinean armies in manufacturing Gaucho.
Officials of the Armed Forces also watched a demonstration of the vehicle’s performance at the Headquarters of the Brazilian Army. After the presentation in Brazil, the vehicle then followed for demonstration also to the Argentinean leaders. The vehicle is the result of a scientific and technological cooperation agreement signed between the two governments in 1980.
In Brazil, the project is carried forward by the Technology Centre of the Army and in Argentina by the Division of Investigation, Development and Production of the Army.
The vehicle started being developed in April 2004, when in a meeting on the matter, in Rio de Janeiro, in southeast Brazil, were set the technical and operational requirements that the vehicle would meet.
The engine and transfer were made in Brazil and sent to the Argentinean team, which projected the tubular frame and independent suspension. The prototype reached Brazil semi-assembled in June last year and was finished in the shops of the War Arsenal of Rio de Janeiro.
Gaucho is a versatile vehicle that may be used in the civilian areas and is proper for aero-mobile units, as it can be piled up and transported in C-130 aircraft, according to information published in the site of the Ministry of the Army of Brazil.
The vehicle will serve for supply missions, as well as material transportation, evacuation of wounded people, area recognition, command and control of operations, amongst other things, especially in aero-terrestrial operations.
Anba
