Turkish Otokar Offers Brazil TULPAR IFV and Light Tank

Turkish company Otokar has offered Brazil the tracked TULPAR armored vehicle in infantry fighting vehicle and light tank configurations as part of the country’s Army rearmament program.

TurDef reported this.

Otokar is offering the TULPAR in two configurations. The infantry fighting vehicle variant could be equipped with the company’s MIZRAK turret.

For the light tank version, Brazil is considering Leonardo’s HITFACT MKII turret with a 120 mm L45 smoothbore gun.

The Brazilian version of the TULPAR will be equipped with a 720-hp Caterpillar C13-series diesel engine and an Allison 3040 MX automatic transmission.

Neither component is subject to U.S. ITAR export restrictions, which could facilitate local production and subsequent maintenance of the vehicles in Brazil.

Earlier, Brazilian Army representatives visited Otokar facilities, where they examined the TULPAR in the two proposed configurations.

The company offers several powertrain options for the armored vehicle, with engines producing between 700 and 1,100 hp, allowing it to be adapted to customer requirements.

The TULPAR is participating in Brazil’s Forças Blindadas (Armored Forces) armored vehicle modernization program. Under the program, the Brazilian Army is selecting new tracked combat vehicles in two categories — VBC Fuz and VBC CC.

VBC Fuz covers the procurement of a tracked infantry fighting vehicle to replace some of Brazil’s aging M113s. The VBC CC category covers the selection of a new tracked tank to replace the Leopard 1A5BR.

In addition to the Otokar TULPAR, the candidates include the Rheinmetall KF41 Lynx, BAE Systems CV90 and GDELS’s ASCOD.

Brazil plans to purchase a total of 65 tanks and 78 infantry fighting vehicles. Most deliveries are expected between 2037 and 2040, while the first vehicles will be used to test and evaluate the candidates.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the Brazilian Army had begun its first exercises with new Centauro II BR wheeled combat vehicles, officially designated Viatura Blindada de Combate de Cavalaria (VBC CAV). Brazil plans to receive a total of 98 of these vehicles.