Continuing efforts to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation, Brazil’s Senate is moving forward with the consideration of Bill No. 2911/2022, which authorizes the federal Executive Branch, through the Ministry of Defense, to proceed with the donation of six M108 self-propelled howitzers and an aluminum floating bridge to the Paraguayan Army. The initiative, originally promoted by the Presidency of the Republic and approved by the Chamber of Deputies, seeks to deepen military ties between the two countries and optimize the final disposition of materiel that has been withdrawn from active service by the Brazilian Army.
The bill stipulates that the equipment will be transferred in its current condition, with transportation and formalization costs covered by the Ministry of Defense’s budget. The explanatory memorandum notes that the materiel to be donated no longer fulfills an operational role within the Brazilian Army, but can still contribute to strengthening the capabilities of its Paraguayan counterpart. At the same time, the initiative pursues a dual objective: to promote bilateral military cooperation and to reaffirm Brazil’s commitment to regional stability and integration.
The donation of the M108s to Paraguay is closely linked to precedents in the region. In 2022, Brazil approved the transfer of a similar batch of self-propelled howitzers and EE-11 Urutu armored vehicles to the Uruguayan Army, an operation that was also carried out under Mercosur technical cooperation programs. In both the Uruguayan and Paraguayan cases, the donated equipment had been removed from active service, having been progressively replaced by more modern systems such as the M109A5+ and the VBTP-MR Guarani 6×6 armored vehicles, developed by Iveco Defence Vehicles in partnership with the Brazilian Army.
This new initiative complements other recent actions of military cooperation between Brazil and Paraguay. In mid-2025, the Brazilian Army moved forward with the delivery of a batch of twenty EE-11 Urutu 6×6 armored vehicles, which will be modernized and brought into service by Paraguayan forces. Through this, the Paraguayan Army aims to revitalize an armored fleet that also includes EE-9 Cascavel vehicles and new Oshkosh M-ATV armored vehicles acquired under the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program. These additions are intended to strengthen mobility, transport, and response capabilities against non-conventional threats.
The strengthening of defense ties between the two countries reached its peak with the acquisition of A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft for the Paraguayan Air Force (PAF) in a deal valued at more than USD 96 million. These aircraft represent a significant leap in the incorporation of new capabilities, as they are equipped with digital avionics, thermal sensors, laser rangefinders, and the ability to employ guided weapons, providing the PAF with an air combat capability that had been limited for more than a decade.
In this way, Senate approval of the M108 donation bill is part of a phase of growing integration and technical cooperation between Brazil and Paraguay. Beyond the tactical value of the transferred equipment, the measure represents a political and strategic gesture that reaffirms Brazil’s role as the region’s leading provider of defense assistance and technology transfer.
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