After joining the CAVS programme in April 2023, Germany has joined the programme's R&D phase. (Patria)

Germany has joined the Finnish-led 6×6 Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) vehicle research and development (R&D) phase, Patria announced in a press release on 2 May. It joins the other CAVS countries – Finland, Latvia, and Sweden – participating in the R&D phase.

Patria said joining the R&D phase would give Germany access to the results of the product development packages developed in the CAVS programme and allow it to co-define its requirements for future mission variants.

A Patria spokesperson told Janes on 3 May, “During the R&D phase those variants that are important for every individual country participating in the programme are being evaluated by those countries. Germany now has access to the results of the product development packages developed in the programme and will be in a position to co-define the requirements for future mission variants. The timeline for this phase has been different for each participating country, depending on their requirements and needs.”

Germany formally joined the CAVS programme in April 2023 with the signing of the programme's technical arrangement.

The new VBMT-LSR Guaicurus vehicles will include configurations with the new Ares REMAX 4 remotely controlled weapon station. (Victor Barreira)

The Manufacturing Directorate of the Brazilian Army plans to acquire up to 420 new Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) Light Multirole Vehicles (LMVs).

The IDV and the Army High Staff signed a protocol of intent on 17 April to pave the way for this acquisition. Designated Viatura Blindada Multitarefa Leve Sobre Rodas (VBMT-LSR) Guaicurus in Brazil, the 4×4 vehicle project is part of the army's Strategic Program Armoured Forces (Programa Estratégico do Exército Forças Blindadas: Prg EE F Bld).

The contract for the acquisition is currently being drafted, according to the army's projects office.

The Brazilian LMV will be acquired in different configurations, the army's Manufacturing Directorate told Janes in 2023.

The original VBMT-LSR project called for acquiring an initial batch of 32 LMVs and placing subsequent orders for two tranches of 77 vehicles each. The plan has since evolved to procuring 420 vehicles, thanks to ordering fewer new IDV VBTP-MSR Guarani 6×6 armoured vehicles than originally planned, a defence sector source told Janes .

A Spanish NASAMS anti-air defence unit (UDAA) has been deployed in Estonia since April 2023. (GBAD Task Force Estonia)

The Spanish government has announced the EUR410 million (USD438 million) modernisation and acquisition of additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMSs), Kongsberg announced in a press release on 19 April.

The Dirección General de Armamento y Material (DGAM), the Spanish Armaments Directorate, approved a contract for the modernisation of Spain's NASAMS on 19 April. Kongsberg expected the contract to be signed in May 2024.

The NASAMS modernisation includes upgrading the system's Sentinel radar, Spain's Council of Ministers announced on 9 April. The EUR45.9 million contract includes additional equipment, technical support, and auxiliary tools and equipment necessary for integration into the system, as well as related training and maintenance.

The 655 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) that the US Congress announced would be provided to Spain in early December 2023 include NASAMS missiles.

Spain was the first export customer for NASAMS, which it has operated for over 20 years.