After TCU release, Army awaits Defense approval to continue purchasing armored vehicles from Israel | Blogs
After the Federal Audit Court (TCU) decided this Wednesday (18) that there is no impediment to the purchase of armored vehicles from Israel, the Brazilian Army is now awaiting approval from the Ministry of Defense to continue the process that has been on hold since May .
The Court of Auditors’ opinion was celebrated by members of the Force this afternoon as a technical endorsement for an issue that has been in conflict.
HAS CNNsources stated that the resumption of the process to acquire 36 armored vehicles, 155mm howitzers – a type of long-range and precision cannon – now depends on the Ministry of Defense’s response to a consultation made by the Army to the department.
The signing of the contract with the Israeli company Elbit Systems was postponed in May by decision of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
As shown by CNNPresident Lula’s international advisor, Celso Amorim, .
Opponents of the purchase claim that it is unreasonable for the Brazilian government to acquire military equipment from a country whose military action in the Gaza Strip is criticized by Lula. They argue that the purchase of howitzers, for almost R$1 billion, could finance Israel’s attacks on Palestinians.
Military personnel, in turn, claim that Israeli equipment, first placed in the bidding, is the best on the market. Furthermore, they argued that canceling the competition would create legal uncertainty and a negative image on the international market.
Faced with the impasse, the Minister of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro, consulted the TCU “on the possibility of restricting or preventing the participation in bidding of a company, entity or organization, public or private, with ties to a country in a situation of armed conflict , as well as the conclusion or maintenance of a contract with such entities”.
TCU decision
In an analysis this Thursday, the TCU concluded that, under current legislation, there are no restrictions in relation to a supplier linked to a country that is in a situation of war, regarding participation in bidding or the execution of a contract for the import of products of defense.
The Court also noted that there are no international treaties internalized by Brazil or United Nations Security Council embargoes that create any obstacle in this regard.
The Army’s tender to purchase 36 new howitzers under the justification of modernizing this type of equipment for the Force’s artillery began in 2017. The howitzers currently used are, in large part, from the Second World War (1939-1945).
The competition entered its final phase approximately two years ago, and companies from four countries competed for the contract with the Army (Israel, France, China and Slovakia). Elbit Systems, an Israeli, won based on technical criteria and lowest price.
The Atmos system, produced by Elbit and best scored by the Army Logistics Command, has already been exported to several countries. The fifth-generation systems are operated by the militaries of Denmark, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Colombia. Previous versions equip forces in Thailand, the Philippines and Uganda, among others.
Considered heavy weapons, due to their high destructive power, howitzers are a type of cannon from modern times, in which explosive projectiles are fired inside a tube that directs them to the target. They can be used individually (towed), but it has become more common to install them on armored (self-propelled) vehicles.
