NORINCO Announces Bid for Brazil's Tank and IFV Replacement Program
While the announcement will be a success for the company and deepen the Chinese-Brazilian relationship, the bid face several issues.
Chinese State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) announced it will offer both its VT4 Main Battle Tank (MBT) and its VN20 heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) to the Brazilian Army Exercito Brasileiro (EB).
Chinese State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) announced it will offer both its VT4 Main Battle Tank (MBT) and its VN20 heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) to the Brazilian Army Exercito Brasileiro (EB). The bid –revealed at LAAD Defense & Security 2023 held in Rio de Janeiro in April 2023 – is part of the EB’s desire to find armored vehicles for its Armored Combat Vehicle (VBC CC) and Marine Armored Combat Vehicle (VBC Fuz) programs.
The General Staff of the Army (EME) released Ordinance NO. 877 in December 2022, which approved the guidelines for the initial stages for the acquisition of the VBC CC and VBC Fuz. The order also created a Working Group (WG) to evaluate the EB’s options for acquiring – either through national or international partnership – of up to 78 VBC Fuz IFVs and 65 VBC CC MBTs by 2040. Another one of the WG’s goals is to verify the feasibility of reducing and facilitating logistical and maintenance footprints by acquiring both vehicles based on the same modular platform.
EB’s VBC Fuz and VBC CC Programs
The General Staff of the Army (EME) released Ordinance NO. 877 in December 2022, which approved the guidelines for the initial stages for the acquisition of the VBC CC and VBC Fuz. The order also created a Working Group (WG) to evaluate the EB’s options for acquiring – either through national or international partnership – of up to 78 VBC Fuz IFVs and 65 VBC CC MBTs by 2040. Another one of the WG’s goals is to verify the feasibility of reducing and facilitating logistical and maintenance footprints by acquiring both vehicles based on the same modular platform. The acquisition process will also take into consideration the possibility of Brazil’s defense manufacturing sector in building or providing components for the vehicles. The WG consulted with various armored cavalry, mechanized infantry, and tank units to obtain the initials requirements for both the new IFV and the MBT.
The VBC CC requirements include having a weight requirement of less than 50 tons, which enables the Brazilian military to transport the MBT using methods organic to the Brazilian military. The requirement for the 120mm smoothbore cannon is to allow for easier ammunition logistics and commonality with the armament for EB’s new B1 Centauro II Tank Destroyers. The VBC CC will also include various optical sights, fire control systems, and a complete Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) suite to acquire and engage targets in all weather.
Requirements for the VBC Fuz include having a weight requirement of less than 45 tons, which like the VBC CC’s requirement, will enable the Brazilian military to transport it with options currently available. The IFV will also have to be operated by a three-man crew (driver, commander, and gunner) and capable of transporting a ‘Combat Group’ grupo de combate (GC) of seven soldiers (equivalent to squad). The VBC Fuz’s armament will also need to be equipped with an automatic cannon of at least 25mm or larger. Finally, the VBC Fuz will need to use the same platform as the VBC CC, to reduce both the logistical and maintenance requirements for the vehicles. For example, the IFV must be capable of receiving either the UT30 MK II, UT30BR2, and the REMAX Turret/Remote Weapons Station (RWS) manufactured by Elbit Systems subsidiary Ares Aerospace and Defense.
VT4 and VN20
While NORINCO announced both the VT4 and VN20 will participate in the bid in both programs, the EB already tested the VT4 in November 2022 when two Brazilian soldiers visited a NORINCO facility. The Brazilian soldiers – a Colonel Coronel and First Sergeant Primeiro-Sargento – visited the facility to evaluate the ST1-BR for its Medium Cavalry Armored Cmobat Vehicle on Wheels (VBC CAV – MSR) program.
While NORINCO announced both the VT4 and VN20 will participate in the bid in both programs, the EB already tested the VT4 in November 2022 when two Brazilian soldiers visited a NORINCO facility. The Brazilian soldiers – a Colonel Coronel and First Sergeant Primeiro-Sargento – visited the facility to evaluate the ST1-BR for its Medium Cavalry Armored Cmobat Vehicle on Wheels (VBC CAV – MSR) program. The EB ultimately chose Iveco Fiat – OTO Melara’s B1 Centauro II Tank Destroyer over the ST1-BR as its new VBC CAV – MSR. During the trip, both Brazilian soldiers had also the opportunity to see a demonstration of the VT4 on a tank evaluation course in addition to the SL1-BR. Both soldiers had the opportunity to not only examine the VT4 but to also to drive the MBT during the trip. The soldiers also received a tour of the tank factory where they saw various armored vehicles in various stages of assembly.
The VT4 MBT – also known as the MBT-3000 – is a third generation MBT manufactured by NORINCO strictly for export to other countries.
VT4
The VT4 MBT – also known as the MBT-3000 – is a third generation MBT manufactured by NORINCO strictly for export to other countries. The tank weighs approximately 53 tons and is around 32 feet long, 8 feet tall, and is 11 feet wide. The VT4 has a turbocharged diesel engine that produces 1,200HP (883KW) mounted to the rear of the tank and has a hydromechanical drive system. It uses a torsion bar suspension system that enables the VT4 to have a maximum speed of 43M/H (70KM/H) on roads and a 25 M/H (40KM/H) in off-road conditions. The MBT has a range of 311 miles (500KM) and is capable of climbing gradients up to 60 degrees and overcoming vertical obstacles of approximately 4 feet (1.2M) tall.
The tank’s main armament is a smoothbore 125mm cannon with an autoloader and a loadout of 38 rounds with the autoloader holding 22. The cannon is capable of firing various kinetic (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) and explosive – High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT), High Explosive Squash Head (HESH), and High Explosive (HE) – rounds. The VT4 is also capable of firing the GP125 Gun-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile (GL-ATGM) that utilizes Line of Sight Beam Riding (ROSBR) guidance, has a tandem HEAT warhead, is has a maximum range of approximately three miles (5KM). The MBT also carries a 7.62mm machine in the coaxial position, a remote weapons station capable of holding a .50 caliber (12.7mm) heavy machine gun, and 12 smoke grenade launchers (six mounted on each side of the turret).
The tank’s turret is completely stabilized and has an independent sighting system, enabling it to shoot while moving. It also has modern optical sights (such as thermal), other sensors, a rangefinder laser, and a fire control system that is capable of tracking and engaging various threats. The VT4 is protected by composite armor with the capability of adding Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) bricks that can be attached to the hull’s sides and turret. The MBT is also capable of mounting the GL5 Active Protection System (APS) onto its turret. The APS can detect Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) and other projectiles with a maximum range of 328 feet (100M) within a 360-degree horizontal direction and a 20-degree arc. The GL5 uses four multi-mission fire control radars to track and engage incoming projectiles.
The company also produces the VN20 heavy IFV, that is based on the hull of the VT4 and was first unveiled at the 2022 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China.
VN20
The company also produces the VN20 heavy IFV, that is based on the hull of the VT4 and was first unveiled at the 2022 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China. The IFV weighs approximately 55 tons and consists of three crew members (driver, commander, and gunner). The IFV is also capable of carrying up to eight fully equipped soldiers and provides protection comparable to the VT4 and can be equipped with the GL5 APS and various ERA blocks. The VN20 can be armed with two options: the first option consisting of a remote weapons station using a 30mm automatic cannon and a 7.62mm machine gun. The second option consists of a weapons system consisting of a 100mm cannon, a 30mm automatic cannon, and HJ-12E Red Arrow 红箭 ATGMs.
Analysis: It is still too early to determine if NORINCO would be the winning bid in both the Armored Combat Vehicle (VBC CC) and Marine Armored Combat Vehicle (VBC Fuz) programs. However, if NORINCO were to win both contracts, it would be the biggest contract awarded to a Chinese defense SOE in the Latin America. The successful deal would also deepen the relationship between Brazil and China in the defense and security sector that could also extend to other areas such as increased training exercises or Brazil assisting China in furthering is aircraft carrier program. Finally, the deal would allow China to significantly increase the sale of military equipment to other Latin American countries such as Bolivia, Peru, or Argentina and increase its military influence in the region. However, there are potential issues with the VT4 that would likely prevent NORINCO from winning the contracts. The most apparent issue is the VT4’s barrel caliber (125 mm) versus the EB’s requirement for the VBC (120 mm) to improve and facilitate logistics and maintenance requirements for the MBT fleet.
During the LAAD conference, NORINCO confirmed it can integrate the 120 mm variant of Leonardo produced HITFACT Mk II turret onto the VT4 if the EB requests it. However, it will likely run into the possibility of Italy prohibiting the mating of the turret due to concerns over industrial espionage/theft concerns. Italy could also deny the deal due to its poor relationship with China over several issues such as Italy’s possibly leaving the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s stance on the Ukrainian conflict. If Italy approves EEB’s request for it to use the HITFACT turret on the VT4, it may impose several restrictions on the process that would cause both NORINCO and Brazil to look for other solutions. NORINCO could adapt 120 mm smoothbore cannon to the turret since that would prevent any third parties from blocking the deal. This solution also has issues, the most notable is that NORINCO does not have little experience in producing and operating barrels in this caliber. There are other countries – such as Israel’s Elbit Systems Sabra Light tank and the U.K.’s BAE Systems Hägglunds CV-90 – whose countries would allow Brazil to mate the HITFACT turret onto either hull without any issues.