The 3rd Mechanized Cavalry Squadron of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Brigade displayed one of its four Guarani 6×6s at the Mostra BID Brasil 2024 event that took place in December. (Victor Barreira)
The Brazilian operation of Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) is to launch the development of the ambulance and command post variants of the VBTP-MSR Guarani 6×6 amphibious armoured vehicle for the Brazilian Army in 2025, the company's marketing manager Giovanni Giordani told Janes on 5 December.
IDV and the Army Technological Center signed a contract on 20 December to develop the ambulance version VBTE Amb MSR (Viatura Blindada de Transporte Especial Ambulancia Média Sobre Rodas) and the command post version VBE PC MSR (Viatura Blindada Especial Posto de Comando Média Sobre Rodas) by 2026. The guidelines for the contract were approved in October 2024, Giordani said.
Prototypes of the VBTE Amb MSR and VBE PC MSR will be trialled at the Army Evaluations Center after the two vehicles are commissioned in late 2026, the army said.
The Army Strategic Program Armoured Forces effort includes the acquisition of 80 VBTE Amb MSRs and 74 VBE PC MSRs by Logistics Command.
A contract will be awarded to IDV in 2025 to launch the development of the air-defence variant VBC AAe MSR (Viatura Blindada de Combate~Antiaérea Média Sobre Rodas) of the Guarani in 2026, which is set to include Saab's Mobile Short-Range Air Defence (MSHORAD) system.
For more information on Guarani, please see Feature: Brazilian Armed Forces, caught between ambition and fiscal reality, plans a slate of new acquisitions.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
