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Jane's Defence Weekly - February 06, 2008
Uruguay proceeds with rifle buy, land system plans
Emmanuel Ferrario JDW Correspondent Montevideo
Additional reporting by José Higuera Correspondent Santiago
The Uruguayan military has moved ahead with a decision to acquire the 5.56 mm Steyr AUG A3 rifles.
The move follows a stalled decision in 2007 to buy Kalashnikov 5.56 mm AK-101 rifles to replace ageing Argentine-made 7.62 mm FN FAL assault rifles.
The first batch of 3,500 Austrian-made A3 rifles has been ordered to equip combat units at home and forces deployed abroad in peacekeeping operations. Sources informed Jane's that the navy's marine infantry troops would also receive a shipment of 1,500 rifles.
Criticism of the handling of the rifle selection forced a temporary suspension of plans to buy two secondhand João Belo-class frigates from Portugal to replace the French-built Commandant Rivière-class frigates currently in Uruguayan Navy service.
Reports have also surfaced that the government is in negotiations to order a 1,500-ton, 85 m offshore patrol vessel from Chilean naval shipyard ASMAR. The reports, echoed in Chile, said the patrol boat procurement is part of an agreement for military co-operation signed in 2007 by the Uruguayan and Chilean governments.
Other procurement plans now expected to be finalised include the acquisition of a number of UH-1H helicopters from Spanish and German surplus supplies, Dornier Do-228 light transport aircraft from Germany, M113 tracked armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Belgium and wheeled APCs from Canada.
The acquisition of a number of secondhand Canadian-built Piranha 8 x 8 wheeled APCs is said to be under negotiation with Chile. Uruguay has also received 40 Canadian-built Mowag 6 x 6 Bison armoured cars.
The vehicles were acquired from Canadian surplus supplies and are will be sent to Chile for refurbishment and upgrade by FAMAE, a state-owned company administered by the Chilean Army, under a USD3 million contract.
The 6 x 6 armoured cars will be refurbished at FAMAE facilities by the Chilean Army's Limache Logistic and Maintenance Battalion in Santiago. Besides engine and transmission refurbishment, some of the vehicles are going to receive a Kuka turret with a 20 mm gun. Others will be modified to the troop transport variant standard.
2008 Jane's Information Group
Uruguay proceeds with rifle buy, land system plans
Emmanuel Ferrario JDW Correspondent Montevideo
Additional reporting by José Higuera Correspondent Santiago
The Uruguayan military has moved ahead with a decision to acquire the 5.56 mm Steyr AUG A3 rifles.
The move follows a stalled decision in 2007 to buy Kalashnikov 5.56 mm AK-101 rifles to replace ageing Argentine-made 7.62 mm FN FAL assault rifles.
The first batch of 3,500 Austrian-made A3 rifles has been ordered to equip combat units at home and forces deployed abroad in peacekeeping operations. Sources informed Jane's that the navy's marine infantry troops would also receive a shipment of 1,500 rifles.
Criticism of the handling of the rifle selection forced a temporary suspension of plans to buy two secondhand João Belo-class frigates from Portugal to replace the French-built Commandant Rivière-class frigates currently in Uruguayan Navy service.
Reports have also surfaced that the government is in negotiations to order a 1,500-ton, 85 m offshore patrol vessel from Chilean naval shipyard ASMAR. The reports, echoed in Chile, said the patrol boat procurement is part of an agreement for military co-operation signed in 2007 by the Uruguayan and Chilean governments.
Other procurement plans now expected to be finalised include the acquisition of a number of UH-1H helicopters from Spanish and German surplus supplies, Dornier Do-228 light transport aircraft from Germany, M113 tracked armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Belgium and wheeled APCs from Canada.
The acquisition of a number of secondhand Canadian-built Piranha 8 x 8 wheeled APCs is said to be under negotiation with Chile. Uruguay has also received 40 Canadian-built Mowag 6 x 6 Bison armoured cars.
The vehicles were acquired from Canadian surplus supplies and are will be sent to Chile for refurbishment and upgrade by FAMAE, a state-owned company administered by the Chilean Army, under a USD3 million contract.
The 6 x 6 armoured cars will be refurbished at FAMAE facilities by the Chilean Army's Limache Logistic and Maintenance Battalion in Santiago. Besides engine and transmission refurbishment, some of the vehicles are going to receive a Kuka turret with a 20 mm gun. Others will be modified to the troop transport variant standard.
2008 Jane's Information Group
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