EE-9 Cascavel

The EE-9 Cascavel (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐskɐˈvɛl], translated to Rattlesnake) is a six-wheeled Brazilian armoured car developed primarily for reconnaissance. It was engineered by Engesa in 1970 as a replacement for Brazil's aging fleet of M8 Greyhounds. The vehicle was first fitted with the Greyhound's 37mm main gun, and subsequently, a French turret adopted from the Panhard AML-90. Later models carry unique Engesa turrets with a Belgian 90mm Cockerill Mk.3 cannon produced under licence as the EC-90.

EE-9 Cascavel
Engesa EE-9 of the Brazilian Army at a public exhibit in 2022
TypeArmoured car
Place of originBrazil
Service history
In service1974–present
Used bySee Operators
WarsColombian Civil War
Western Sahara War
Egyptian–Libyan War
Chadian–Libyan War
Iran–Iraq War
Gulf War
Second Congo War
Iraq War
Internal conflict in Burma
First Libyan Civil War
War in Iraq (2013–2017)
Boko Haram insurgency
Second Libyan Civil War
Production history
DesignerEngesa
Designed1970
ManufacturerEngesa
Unit costUSD $500,000 (new)
Produced1974–1993
No. built1,738
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass12 tonnes (13 short tons; 12 long tons)
Length6.29 m (20 ft 8 in)
 length5.25 m (17 ft 3 in) (hull)
Width2.59 m (8 ft 6 in)
Height2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
Crew3 (commander, driver, gunner)

Main
armament
90mm Engesa EC-90 (44 rounds)
Secondary
armament
FN MAG (2,200–2,400 rounds)
EngineDetroit Diesel 6V-53N 5.2 L (320 in3) 6-cylinder water-cooled diesel
158 kW (212 hp) at 2,800 rpm
Power/weight15.82hp/tonne
Suspension6X6 double axle boomerang drive
Ground clearance0.375 m (1 ft 2.8 in)
Fuel capacity360 L (95 US gal)
Operational
range
750 km (470 mi)
Maximum speed 100 km/h (62 mph)

The Cascavel shares many components with the EE-11 Urutu, its armoured personnel carrier counterpart; both entered production in 1974 and are now operated by over 20 nations in South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Rights to the design were also sold to the United States via the FMC Corporation. About 2,767 Cascavels and Urutus were manufactured before Engesa ceased operations in 1993.

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