On June 21, 2024, the Brazilian Naval Commission in Washington (CNBW), USA, issued Request for Quotation (RFQ) No. Q2024-0074, aiming to select two Chinese unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the types Mavic 3 and Matrice.
The deadline for submitting proposals is June 27.
The RFQ item list includes:
1 (one) DJI MAVIC 3 ENTERPRISE THERMAL COMBO.
1 (one) DJI M30T PLUS COMBO.
– Support kits.
Manufactured by SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (also known as Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies Ltd. or simply DJI), the drones have been widely used—by both sides—in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In April this year, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced the acquisition of 4,000 DJI Mavic 3 drones to support the country’s military operations.
The Chinese manufacturer is a global leader in the commercial and consumer UAV segment and has expanded its presence in Brazil and Latin America. In 2021, DJI was estimated to hold a global market share of over 70%, followed by its competitors Intel (4.1%) and Yuneec (3.6%).
Since at least last year, the Brazilian Army has been operating DJI UAVs in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. In December 2022, Army Aviation (AvEx) received a batch of 34 DJI drones, including 30 Mavic 2 Enterprise units and 4 Matrice 300 RTK units.
During an official visit to Brazil in May this year, as part of Operation Southern Seas 2024, the Commander of the United States Southern Command (Southcom), General Laura Richardson, expressed concern over the expanding presence and influence of China in the region.
Source: Zona Militar