Brazil Gets 100th Guarani Amphibious Armored Vehicle

Iveco delivered the hundredth VBTP-MR Guarani to the Brazilian Army Firday, the company stated in a press release.

The vehicle is produced at the Iveco Defence Vehicles plant in Sete Lagoas (MG). The Guarani was developed nationally in partnership with the Brazilian Armed Forces to replace the Urutu and Cascavel wheeled armored vehicles.

The partnership, which began in 2007 with the development of the industrial design, was consolidated in 2013 with the opening of Iveco Defence Vehicles’ first factory outside Europe. "It is essential that civil society understand the importance of defense equipment to a country the size of Brazil. We cannot depend on imported technology and the Guarani is symbolic because it demonstrates the ability to produce here," said Celso Amorim, Defense Minister of Brazil. 

To produce each armored vehicle it takes about 3,200 hours of work. With a capacity for up to eleven people, the Guarani weighs 18 tons, has 6X6 traction, can reach 110 km per hour and has amphibious capabilities. In addition to air conditioning, it presents a series of technological innovations such as automatic detection and fire extinguishing and low thermal and radar signatures among others. The base design can be used as a basis for the development and production of a family of armored vehicles in different versions, including reconnaissance vehicle, rescue, command post, ambulance and mortar carrier. 

"The production of the Guarani in Brazil is a milestone for the reconstruction of the national defense industry. The partnership between Iveco and the army deployed the country again as a producer of high technology in this segment, "said Giovanni D'Ambrosio, director of Research and Development division of Iveco Defence Vehicles in Latin America. He adds that the vehicle has attracted commercial interest from other countries - located mainly in South America and Africa.