Portuguese Army enhances special operations capabilities with new equipment

by Victor Barreira

Portuguese FOE operator, equipped with the PRC-148 JEM, HK416A5, AN/PVS-21, and ATAK systems. (Victor Barreira)

The Portuguese Army is equipping its special operations unit, the Força de Operações Especiais (FOE), with a range of new weapons and systems.

The 100-strong FOE is part of the Special Operations Troops Centre (CTOE) based in Lamego and is composed of a command staff, six special operations task units (SOTUs), and a command and support company.

FOE relies on the Special Operations Force Implementation Plan (PIFOE) introduced in 2016, and other projects that fall under the country‘s Military Programming Law, for the acquisition of equipment, the FOE‘s Deputy Commander Major António Lopes told Janes .

A variety of surplus equipment was received in 2021 from other army units, mainly 12.7 mm M2HB-QCB and 7.62 mm MAG machine guns (MGs), 40 mm GMG automatic grenade launchers, and Carl-Gustaf M2U anti-armour weapons, as well as eight Defender 130 Td4 SOPS 4×4 assault vehicles for training.


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Indian Army outlines loiter munition procurement programme

by Kapil Kajal

The armament of the T-72 MBT (pictured above) – taking part in an Indian Army exercise in November 2022 – includes a 125 mm main gun, a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm gun. The Indian Army seeks to integrate the CALM system into the tank. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

The Indian Army has outlined a programme to procure canister-launched anti-armour loiter munition (CALM) systems and associated accessories to enhance the operational efficiency of the mechanised infantry.

According to an initial procurement notice issued by the Indian Army on 21 March, the service seeks to procure CALM systems to integrate them on T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks (MBTs), BMP-2 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), carrier mortar tracked vehicles, and reconnaissance vehicles.

The Indian Army seeks to procure 180 CALM systems to provide remote-controlled beyond-visual-line-of-sight capability to the mechanised infantry and armoured units at stand-off ranges of up to 15 km to destroy enemy AFVs with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.


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Sweden orders 321 Patria 6×6 CAVS

by Sonny Butterworth

A Patgb 300 CAVS showing the unique Swedish modifications to the platform. These include a roof-mounted Kongsberg RS4 Protector ROWS and two banks of four smoke dischargers mounted beneath the windshield. (Patria Land Oy)

Patria and the Swedish Armed Forces announced that Sweden placed a SEK5.3 billion (USD507.4 million) order for 321 Patria 6×6 Common Armoured Vehicle Systems (CAVS) on 20 March.

Designated Patgb 300 (Pansarterrängbil 300: Armoured All-Terrain Vehicle 300) in Swedish service, the vehicles are planned to be delivered in armoured personnel carrier (APC), command-and-control (C2), and ambulance variants. Deliveries are scheduled to commence with the APC variant during the first half of 2025, leading to the completion of all deliveries by 2030. In addition to motorised infantry units, the platform will be used to equip air-defence and artillery units.

This contract follows a previous Swedish order for 20 pre-series Patgb 300s placed on 19 April 2023, all of which were delivered by November 2023. According to a press release issued by the Swedish Armed Forces on 19 April 2023, these pre-series CAVS were handed over to the Swedish Army's Life Guards regiment.


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Brazil unveils upgraded M113BR APC

by Victor Barreira

An M113BR APC of the Brazilian Army integrated with REMAX 4 weapon system by Ares. (ARES)

Ares Aeroespacial e Defesa, a Brazilian subsidiary of Elbit Systems, has completed the development of an upgraded M113BR armoured personnel carrier (APC) belonging to the 20th Armoured Infantry Battalion of the Brazilian Army.

This self-funded technology demonstrator, developed with technical support from the army's manufacturing directorate, could emerge as a possible option for a potential upgrade of the M113BR by the army, Ares told Janes on 13 March. The upgraded vehicle is scheduled to be trialled in April.

The modernisation was aimed at improving situational awareness and protection of the M113BR. The company installed its REMAX 4 lightweight remotely controlled weapon station, an OIP Sentinal driver's thermal imaging system, a power management system featuring autonomy of 13 hours, and an adaptable mechanical interface, Ares said.

The REMAX 4, which was jointly developed with the Army Technological Center (CTEx), consists of a dual-axis gyro-stabilised weapon mount, 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun, ammunition feeding system, ammunition magazine, four 76 mm smoke dischargers, the OIP Sensor Systems EOPTRIS 2.0 imager, as well as command-and-control workstation.


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https://www.janes.com/defence-news/c4isr-command-tech/latest/portuguese-army-enhances-special-operations-capabilities-with-new-equipment

The Portuguese Army is equipping its special operations unit, the Força de Operações Especiais (FOE)...

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