Chaimite: First article published

The Portuguese magazine Motor Clássico has published on its December issue, the first part of the history of the portuguese-built Chaimite armoured vehicle which has been in operation with both Portuguese and foreign military and security forces since the 1970s.

This first article comprises topics such as the context which surround the development of the project, the first years of production, other projects developed by the Bravia-VM (e.g., the Leopardo truck and the Comando Mk III security vehicle) as well as a technical description of the Chaimite. Other topics will have further development in the second part of this work.
The article is the result of several months of field research which has included interviews, research on archives, military units and press as part of the Chaimite Research Project.

Pedro Monteiro

Pandur II ICV: Walkaround

A walkaround of the basic variant of the Pandur II armoured vehicle, the ICV (Infantry Carrier Vehicle). This combat variant is armed with a 12,7mm caliber machine gun. Other versions, such as the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) armed with a Steyr SP 30 turret with a 30mm canon, are part of the Portuguese purchase.

Com a encomenda do Exército português estão a ser construídas um total de 260 viaturas blindadas do tipo Pandur II 8x8. A Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH (Steyr-SSF), que desde 2003 pertence ao grupo norte-americano General Dynamics, conseguiu mais um grande projecto na sua história. Não foi apenas o melhor preço o que convenceu os militares portugueses: as características do veículo, tais como a tecnologia avançada, a alta mobilidade, a protecção da equipa no interior, assim como a sua flexibilidade, foram determinantes. Em resposta às várias tarefas que o Exército prevê para os seus Pandures foram desenvolvidas várias versões personalizadas, em primeiro lugar para o transporte de tropas e missões de reconhecimento e de apoio. [Steyr's Press Release, 29.05.2008]

The 240 vehicle fleet will be operated by the Brigada de Intervenção, the medium brigade of the Portuguese Army.

Front view of the Pandur II ICV. Two vehicles were presented to the public at Coimbra in June 2008 during the commemorations of the anniversary of the Brigada de Intervenção. [click to enlarge].

Rear view of the Pandur II ICV. Two vehicles were presented to the public at Coimbra in June 2008 during the commemorations of the anniversary of the Brigada de Intervenção. Notice the Browning H2B machine gun. [click to enlarge].

Top view of the vehicle. The engine compartment is placed at the right side of the driver [click to enlarge].

Troop compartment of the Pandur II ICV which can carry up to eight troops [click to enlarge].

Another detail of the Portuguese-built vehicle [click to enlarge].

Pedro Monteiro

Portuguese Army boosts its fire power with new weapon systems

The reception of the first batch of Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks purchased in 2007 has boost the fire power, mobility and operationally of the heavy brigade of the Portuguese Army, the Brigada Mecanizada (Mechanized Brigade). The Brazilian defence website Defesa Net has published an article which compares the new Leopard 2A6 with the old M60 A3 TTS:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_leo2a6.htm


On the other hand, Steyr has been testing a prototype of a Mobile Gun System (MGS) version of the Pandur II which could be purchased by Lisbon for the Brigada de Intervenção, the Army medium brigade:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_pandur.htm

Pedro Monteiro

Felino 08

Every year, the members of the CPLP (Portuguese-speaking countries comunity) realize a joint military exercise know as Felino. This year edition tooked place at the military zone of S. Jacinto, near the city of Aveiro, and at the air base of Ovar.


Pedro Monteiro

EHM: Sailing across the skies

The August issue of the Portuguese magazine "Vega" (you can check their website here) brings a report about the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM, Navy Helicopter Squadron) as part of my collaboration with such publication.

Such work includes images from the Instrex 08 military exercise as well as several details about the future of the squad. Besides, the articles from the magazine include a full English version.

Pedro Monteiro

Pristina 082: Portugal prepares a new peacekeeping mission in Kosovo

In 2007, the Pristina 072 (see report here) was the final exercise of the portuguese force before being deployed in Kosovo.
One year later, the Agrupamento Mike from the Brigada de Intervenção (Intervention Brigade, the medium brigade of the Portuguese Army) was involved on the Pristina 082 which took place in Cabeceiras de Bastos, during the last week of July. The exercise tested the performance of the Portuguese troops on a peacekeeping mission, since they will be part of the KFOR Tactical Reserve Manoueuvre Batalion. The unit of 290 men will replace the Portuguese force deployed in Kosovo in September.


A full report in Portuguese was published, last week, by the Brazilian defence website Defesa Net:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_pristina08.htm

Pedro Monteiro