Brazil looks for attack helicopter two years after fleet retirement
Brazil has not had an attack helicopter fleet since retiring its Mil Mi-35M Hind-E attack helicopters. (Photo: FAB)
The Brazilian Armed Forces has faced challenges in terms of it size and geography and has long had an emphasis on better serving Amazonia. Plans for a new battalion are set to become a reality and improvement of rotary capability is underway.
Brazil will be considering the possibility of purchasing attack helicopters as it looks to refresh its army aviation helicopter fleet through upgrades and new purchases.
Speaking at Defence iQ’s International Military Helicopter conference in London on 28 February, Col Marco Aureilo de Castro, chief of general staff for Brazilian Army Aviation Command, highlighted the geographic challenges the force faced in size, environment and inaccessibility.
The country, which measures 8.5 million square kilometres, features areas that can only be accessed by river or air. Col de Castro said inaccessibility had particularly affected operations in Amazonia where there have been plans for the establishment of another battalion.
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