Leonardo Signs First Serial Production Contract for the Centauro II With the Brazilian Army

Italian defense group Leonardo announced on September 1, 2026, that its CIO Consortium (IDV – OTO Melara) had signed the first serial production contract with the Brazilian Army for the Centauro II 8×8 wheeled combat vehicle. The deal covers delivery of seven 120mm-armed Centauro II vehicles, the opening batch of an overall program for 98 vehicles.

At a Glance

Date signed: September 1, 2026
Parties: Leonardo (CIO Consortium: IDV – OTO Melara) and the Brazilian Army
First batch: seven 120mm-armed Centauro II 8×8 vehicles
Overall program: 98 vehicles, to be delivered in annual tranches
Program: Brazilian Army’s VBC Cav-MSR 8×8 (Viatura Blindada de Combate de Cavalaria Média Sobre Rodas) project, under the Programa Estratégico Forças Blindadas

Background

The contract follows the delivery and successful operational testing of an initial two-vehicle evaluation batch. The Centauro II is fitted with a HITFACT MkII turret, a 720 hp engine, and an H-drive transmission; Leonardo describes it as the only vehicle in service that integrates a 120mm main gun on a wheeled platform. The original Centauro family already serves with the Italian and Spanish armies, and the Centauro II extends that legacy globally, with Brazil becoming the platform’s first major customer in Latin America.

Regional Impact

The deal underscores how competitive the global 8×8 wheeled armored vehicle market remains — a segment where Turkish platforms such as the FNSS PARS and Otokar ARMA also compete. Leonardo pushing a 120mm-armed wheeled platform into serial production raises the bar in the “wheeled tank destroyer” category, which in turn makes it more important for Turkish manufacturers pursuing similar heavily armed 8×8 variants (including PARS III 8×8 work toward 105/120mm gun integration) to keep securing export footholds. Brazil, and Latin America more broadly, remains a growing target market for Turkish armored vehicle exporters as well.