OSORIO MBT (project)

The EE-T1 Osorio MBT was a private development that Brazilian Engesa company carried out in the late 1980s, and that was Brazil’s first attempt to build a fully indigenous main battle tank. The name comes from a legendary Brazilian Army’s Marshall, a national hero called Manuel Luís Osório. The prototype was presented in August 1984 and although the Brazilian Army showed great interest in the project, finally they never decided to make a firm request. The Osorio MBT was built with composite armor and both the hull and the turret had a very sloping profile that improved protection. Two possibilities were offered for the main armament, the British 105mm L-7A3 rifled gun, destined for the Brazilian Army, and the powerful French Giat/EFAB CN-120 120mm smooth bore gun intended for the export market. Although Osorio MBT won a competition in Saudi Arabia to equip their armored forces, this country finally decided by the American M-1 Abrams, which led the Engesa company to bankruptcy in 1993, ending the dream of manufacturing a totally Brazilian MBT.

OSORIO MBT gallery and more info