Jundiaí, in the countryside of São Paulo state, will become the central hub of the Army’s future air defense system. The city was chosen for its strategic location near the Anhanguera Highway and easy access to the Port of Santos, facilitating equipment transport. The project, part of the Force 40 modernization program, envisions by 2039 the deployment of a medium-altitude air defense system, with missiles capable of reaching up to 15 km in altitude and a range of 40 to 60 km. Currently, Brazil only has low-altitude defense systems, with a range of up to 3 km.
General Marcos José Martins Coelho, commander of the Army’s Air Defense, highlights that the mobile system will be able to protect São Paulo’s capital and nearby economic regions such as Campinas and Sorocaba. The investment is justified by growing international instability, with large-scale conflicts such as those in Gaza and Ukraine, requiring new defense capabilities.
The Army is evaluating proposals from manufacturers in several countries, including India, Italy, Germany, and the United States, to acquire the new systems. The weapons must be capable of 360° firing, hitting fighter jets flying at speeds of 800 meters per second and drones at over 100 meters in altitude.
The move to Jundiaí has already begun with the transfer of training equipment. Expansion of the project to other states is under study. The Air Defense Command currently has units in seven locations, including Jundiaí, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília.
