politics
March 18, 2026
Why South America never became a missile power: From Condor to modern Rockets
Argentina and Brazil once pursued ambitious missile programs, but political pressure and nonproliferation reshaped South America’s military technology path.
TL;DR
- Argentina and Brazil pursued ambitious missile programs in the late Cold War, aiming for technological independence.
- Argentina's Condor program, developed with international partners, faced scrutiny and was eventually shut down due to US pressure.
- Brazil's early ballistic missile initiatives were halted in 1991 due to nonproliferation agreements, though the country retained expertise.
- Currently, South American nations are developing more practical missile systems such as anti-ship missiles and rockets for multiple-launch systems.
- Brazil is unique in South America for its independent development of missile programs, focusing on systems within a 300-kilometer range limit.
- Other South American countries largely rely on imported missile systems from global powers.
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