The Order of Defence Merit is an award of the Brazilian Military, established on 10 June 2002 by decree No. 4263. The order is presented in five grades and recognizes distinguished service and exceptional contributions to Brazil by members of the Brazilian Military and the armies of friendly nations as well as civilians, and, less common, to organizations and institutions.
| Order of Defence Merit | |
|---|---|
| Type | State Order |
| Awarded for | Relevant service to Brazilian Military |
| Country |  Brazil |
| Presented by | Brazilian Armed Forces |
| Eligibility | Members of the Brazilian Armed Forces or civilians and foreign armed forces and civilians |
| Established | 10 June 2002 |
 Ribbon bar of the order | |
GradesEdit
The five grades are Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight.
| Ribbons | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Grã-Cruz |
 Grande-Oficial |
 Comendador |
 Oficial |
Cavaleiro |
Notable recipientEdit
- Édouard Guillaud, France (Officer)
- Elon Musk, American Inventor