The Brazilian Defense Industry
70's and 80's
It is essential to highlight that the Security and Defense Industrial Base is the set of state or private companies that participate in one or more stages of research, development, production, distribution and maintenance of strategic defense products. This network includes facilities and services that, due to their peculiarities, can contribute in achieving objectives related to the country's security and defense.
The high degree of importance that this industry occupies in the Ministry of Defense's structure is evident, contributing to the development of innovative technologies that, naturally, can reach different commercial areas, benefiting the society as a whole.
It is necessary to go back to the second half of the 20th century, in order to understand a little more about the Defense Industry in Brazil. The 70's and 80's represent the peak of this industry in that century and it was in this period, notably during the 80's, that Brazil came to occupy the eighth place in the world as an exporter of defense products.
In this context, the Brazilian Army Military Engineering was present in several partnerships with Defense Industry, characterizing it as a thriving and productive cycle for the defense of the national territory. These partnerships resulted in several products and, among them, we highlight Osório, Cascavel and Urutu armored vehicles, which stand out for their simplicity, robustness and, above all, for their high mobility.
Another highlight of this period is the Artillery SaTuration ROcket System (ASTROS), which provided the country with a long-range and highly mobile artillery system. Developed with national technology to meet the needs of the Brazilian Army, these systems were exported to several countries, leveraging Brazil's participation in the restricted international market for defense products. The success of these products demonstrates the mastery of technologies considered cutting-edge at the time, and some of them with a dual use.
Historically, defense and development go hand in hand, as well as investments in the training of the Armed Forces create opportunities that favor innovation and economic growth for the society. As a result, the Ministry of Defense has been developing policies and initiatives aimed at associating the expansion of the Armed Forces' operational capacity with the search for technological autonomy and the strengthening of the Defense Industry.
The efforts undertaken, in this sense, are aimed at promoting the development of science, technology and innovation, incorporating them into the new goods and services produced, resulting in the maintenance and expansion of the country's industrial park and, consequently, in the generation of jobs.
