With the presence of the Ministry of Defense, Aldo Rebelo, the Army Commander, General Eduardo Villas Bôas and Avibras´ CEO Sami Hassuani, the official handover of the first batch of the modernized system ASTROS MK3-M to the Brazilian Army was held on Thursday, the 10th. The solemnity was held at the 6th Group of Missiles and Rockets (GMF) in Formosa (Goiás).

The batch contains nine modernized vehicles and is part of the Army Strategic Project ASTROS 2020 (PEE ASTROS 2020) of the Ground Force. They are six universal multiple launchers (LMU) and three re-ammunition supply vehicles (RMD). These vehicles have gone through a complete reformulation and technological update process. The vehicles MK-3 (3rd generation) have been updated for the MK-6 (6th generation) model. The differential of the modernized vehicles is that they incorporate the digitalized control and command system (C4I). This means the insertion of certain technologies, such as GPS, encrypted radios, computers and digital navigation.

For the Ministry of Defense, Aldo Rebelo, this project is strategic and aims at keeping and enlarging the dissuasion capacity of the Ground Force.  

Highlight – The Ministry Aldo Rebelo executed the first shot of the ASTROS vehicle during the presentation at the 6th GMF. The ASTROS 2020 project manager, General José Júlio Dias Barreto, highlighted the evolution this project symbolizes for the Army. According to him, the shooting of missiles and rockets carried out by means of the same platform installed on the universal multiple launcher vehicle is a differential worldwide.

General Barreto also highlighted Avibras´ relevant performance as a strategic Defense company, 100% Brazilian and generator of a genuinely national technology.
 
Avibras´ CEO, Sami Hassuani, commented on the importance of the partnership with the Brazilian Army. The event enriched the efforts of Avibras´ collaborators, who made this first step of the modernization process possible. This is a new activity within the company, source of much learning, and successfully accomplished.