The Paraguayan Army has initiated the process of acquiring and modernizing its vehicle fleet—something that had not occurred since 2012. Backed by the Ministry of National Defense and supported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, the military branch plans to add more than 150 units, among which vehicles acquired from the United States stand out.
Army Commander General Manuel Rodríguez provided details to Zona Militar about what will be a two-phase plan, as it includes the modernization and acquisition of both administrative and tactical vehicles.
“Both need to be modernized and, in some cases, new units must be acquired,” said General Rodríguez. The first package includes the purchase of buses, minibuses, cargo trucks, and utility vehicles. “Some of our units are over 15 years old; we need to improve conditions to ensure the safety and care of our personnel,” the Army commander emphasized.
Regarding the acquisition of these vehicles—over one hundred—the Ministry of Economy and Finance has the specifications, and the procurement will proceed through the appropriate channels.
Focusing on tactical vehicles, the Army currently operates 28 Brazilian-made EE-9 “Cascavel” and 12 EE-11 “Urutu” armored vehicles. To this fleet, they plan to add 20 MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) Oshkosh M-ATV vehicles, which will be delivered under the U.S. Army’s Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.
“We have plans to renew the Urutu and the Cascavel, but the acquisition will be 20 units of the Oshkosh vehicles, which have the capabilities we need for combating organized crime and transporting troops,” stated General Rodríguez.
The Oshkosh vehicles have a range of 500 kilometers and are capable of mounting a variety of weapons such as the M240 machine gun, Mk 19 grenade launcher, or anti-tank missile systems like the BGM-71 TOW or the MILAN. Their interior can transport up to five personnel.
Regarding the Urutu, 20 additional units will be donated by the Brazilian Army. These will be overhauled and fully refurbished, with the costs covered by the Paraguayan government. When asked about the modernization of the Cascavel, the general noted: “We need to do the math in that regard—whether modernization is preferable to acquiring new ones.”
Budget Expansion
The Paraguayan Congress is evaluating a budget increase for the Ministry of National Defense in the amount of G. 36,989,084,573 (USD 5,100,000). These funds will be allocated for the acquisition of raw materials for the production and commercialization of explosives, accessories, and related products. This procurement will fall under the responsibility of the General Directorate of War Materiel (DIGEMABEL).
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