How Taurus Won a US$7.3 Million Philippine Army Rifle Contract
The Brazilian gunmaker Taurus won a roughly US$7.3 million contract to supply 12,412 T4 5.56mm rifles to the Philippine Army, announced in January 2021. The post How Taurus Won a US$7.3 Million Philippine Army Rifle Contract appeared first on The Rio Times .
Brazilian firearms maker Taurus secured a significant contract with the Philippine Army to supply 12,412 T4 5.56mm rifles, valued at roughly US$7.3 million, in January 2021. The deal marked Taurus' rare entry into Asia's military rifle market and tested the company's ability to compete with established arms suppliers. The T4 rifle, chambered in 5.56mm and built on the AR-15 and M4 platform, was chosen for its lower price point, which was seen as a key factor in winning the bid.
The contract was awarded after a long and stop-start bidding process, with the final value translating to about R$39 million at an exchange rate of R$5.4 to the dollar. Taurus, known for its handguns at home, has been expanding into military long guns, with the T4 serving as the spearhead of its defense push. The Philippine order gave the T4 rifle an early export reference, signaling the brand's arrival on the world defense stage.
The T4's design shares parts and handling with the widely used M4 family, potentially reducing training time for soldiers. Delivering the rifles to the Philippine Army tested Taurus' ability to meet large military orders on time. The contract, combined with a smaller follow-on order of 1,118 T4 rifles in July 2021, proved to be a significant milestone for Taurus, establishing the company as a credible exporter of military rifles.
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