run-flat tyres and a unique central tyre pressure regulator accessible from the driving compartment. External A boxy, boat-shaped vehicle, the EE-9 Cascavel has a steep frontal glacis which slopes upwards and back towards the horizontal hull roof, with recesses for the headlamps and a thick glacis plate over the driver's seat. The hull sides are nearly vertical, but also sloped inwards towards the roof. There is a low, well-rounded turret on the forward section of the hull with a long, tapered gun barrel and a triple baffle muzzle brake. Variants Cascavel Mk I: Popularly nicknamed Cascavel Magro (skinny rattlesnake) for its small turret ring, this was Engesa's initial production model and only entered service with the Brazilian Army. It was equipped with a turret adopted from the M8 Greyhound and a manual transmission. Its prevailing feature were two sets of rear road wheels linked by an articulated, boomerang-shaped suspension which boosted rear wheel drive—a characteristic that became nearly synonymous with the Cascavel and Urutu. Cascavel Mk II: Popularly nicknamed Cascavel Gordo (fat rattlesnake) for its wide turret ring, this was Engesa's first export model and entered service with Qatar, Bolivia, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Libya. It was equipped with an H-90 turret adopted from the Panhard AML-90 and an automatic transmission. Cascavel Mk III: An improved EE-9 Cascavel Mk II refitted with a diesel engine and an Engesa turret carrying the new Brazilian-manufactured 90mm EC-90 main gun. An anti-aircraft prototype carrying twin 25mm autocannon was also trialled but not adopted. Most Cascavel Mk Is were upgraded to this standard, including automatic transmissions, for the Brazilian Army. Cascavel Mk IV: First production model to be equipped with run-flat tyres and the tyre pressure regulator. Also carried a more integrated fire control system. Cascavel Mk V: An EE-9 Cascavel Mk IV fitted with a Mercedes-Benz OM52A diesel engine developing 190 hp (142 kW). This was the final variant offered for sale by Engesa. Cascavel Mk VI: Derivative of the EE-9 Cascavel Mk V with a Mercedes-Benz OM352A diesel engine. Cascavel Mk VII: EE-9 Cascavel Mk V with the MT-643 gearbox of the Mk IV. Novo Cascavel: A modernized variant of the EE-9 Cascavel by AKAER Engenharia ordered by the Brazilian Army in July 2022 with a new engine, tower with automated control, air conditioning, replacement of the optronics, anti-tank missile launcher in its main turret, a new shooting computer as