VBTP-MR Guarani

VBTP-MR Guarani (Portuguese" Viatura Blindada Transporte de Pessoal - Média de Rodas; "Armored Personnel Carrier Vehicle - Medium Wheeled Type") is a 6×6 armoured personnel carrier developed by Iveco and the Brazilian Army as part of its "URUTU-III" modernization program aimed to replace all EE-11 Urutu by 2015. The 8x8 version of the VBTP-MR is the base of Iveco's Superav armoured personnel carrier. In the program other Brazilian Companies also participated, such as IMBEL (Communications), ELBIT (Armaments), Usiminas and Villares (development of national ballistic structural steel).

VBTP-MR Guarani
Type - Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin - Brazil
Production history
Manufacturer - Iveco
Unit cost - US$ 2 million (2016)
Specifications
Mass - 16.7 t
Length - 6.9 m (23 ft)
Width - 2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Height - 2.34 m (7.7 ft)
Crew - 2 (+ 9 passengers)
Main armament - 30 mm MK44 Bushmaster II (autocannon)
Secondary armament - 7.62 mm FN MAG MG M2HB 12.7 mm M2HB MG
Engine - Iveco Cursor 9 diesel engine (383 hp)
Suspension - Hydropneumatic
Operational range - 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed - 110 km/h (68 mph)

In 1999, the Brazilian Army issued a request (ROB #09/99) for a new family of armored fighting vehicles with amphibious capabilities to replace the EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu. The main feature of this new family should be its modular design, allowing the incorporation of different turrets, weapons, sensors and communications systems onto the same carriage. The development program also include a communications version, an ambulance version and different fire support versions, armed with large calibre mortar and gun systems.
The Brazilian Army has signed with Iveco a contract worth about €2.5 billion for supplying armoured personnel carriers of the VBTP-MR model. The vehicles will replace the old Urutu armoured vehicle employed today by the Brazilian armed forces. The contract covers the delivery of 2,044 vehicles and logistical support for a period of 20 years. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2012, and continue for 18 years.
There is also an 8×8 variant of the vehicle.
Version`S
As of 2021 the VBTP-MR has several planned variants of which the VBTP armored personnel carrier has entered production and service, while the rest are under development:
VBC-MRT (mortar carrier, possibly 120 mm)
VBCI (infantry fighting vehicle with 30 mm turret)
VBE CDT (fire control)
VBE COM (communications / command and control)
VBE ENG (engineering)
VBE OFN (workshop)
VBE PC (command post)
VBE SOC (armored recovery vehicle)
VBR MR (105 mm cannon)
VBTE AMB (ambulance)
VBTP (armored personnel carrier)
The requirements for the VBTP-MR VBCI included an ELBIT remote control turret, equipped with a Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun; it should also be able fire anti-tank guided missiles. This turret, capable of 360 degree swivel and elevation / depression of -15 to +60 degrees, was chosen by the Brazilian Army on a selection made from among four companies. It is expected to be manufactured in Brazil. The firing system has a laser rangefinder, vision and fire control by day/night thermal vision, double shot of command (commander and gunner of the car, with precedence for the later), automatic target tracking system, and hunter killer smoke launchers. A significant aspect of this vehicle is that the turret is equipped with weapons sights and it is stabilized in two axes, allowing firing on the move with very high probability of hit within the first shot. Future needs will determine what kind of instruments will equip the turret, possibly after the vehicle enters service.
Some speculate that the VBE / CP version will fashion a battle management system. The first level at which information must flow in a bidirectional way, what is known as "situational awareness", refers to the tactical commander. The distress (probably the VBCI) and reconnaissance models are planned to have an 8×8 drive train.
On September 2021, the Brazilian Army launched a test campaign of a new engineering variant. The unit is equipped with a excavator manipulator arm (EMA), earth anchor blade (EAB) and a straight obstacle blade (SOB) systems, supplied by the British company Pearson Engineering Ltd.
Armament
 - UT-30BR turret by Elbit Systems, which will be produced in Brazil by AEL Sistemas S.A (Aeroeletronica) (30 mm autocannon)
 - REMAX turret by Ares Aeroespacial e Defesa S.A. and CTEx. (.50 machine gun)
 - ...Possibly a 120 mm mortar (mortar version)
 - ...Possibly a 105 mm cannon (reconnaissance version)
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Compared to the model in use today by the Brazilian Army, the new project brings advantages such as upgraded armor protection, increased mobility, increased range, independent hydropneumatic suspension, increased protection against mines, better ergonomics, air conditioning, brake system with double disc and ABS, GPS, automatic detection and extinguishing of fire, night operation capability as standard and laser detection system.
According to Waldemir Cristino General Romulo, Military Project Manager, there is an interest in exporting the VBTP-MR to other markets, because Brazil has already sold vehicles to Latin America, Africa and Asia-Pacific in the past. The Argentine Army expressed interest in an 8×8 version. Armies also from Chile, Colombia and Ecuador showed interest in the Guarani.
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On the 26 November 2009, the Brazilian Defence Minister, Nelson Jobim, announced that President Lula had authorized the start of production for 2044 new vehicles with the new name Guarani, formerly known as Urutu III. According to him the new vehicle would replace the entire mobility system of the Brazilian Army. Also according to the minister, $6 billion would be invested in construction for the Guarani over 20 years. It was predicted that the first vehicle would be ready in 2010 and 16 vehicles would be tested by 2011. From 2012 on, the actual production would begin.
The army commander, General Enzo Martins Peri, signed the contract for the manufacture of vehicles on 18 December 2009. The examinations would be held at Army's test range (CAEx), located in Barra de Guaratiba, west of Rio de Janeiro state. The tests would examine the vehicle durability, ergonomics and armour in situation such as landmine explosions.
Only on 7 August 2012, the Brazilian Army signed a contract to produce 86 Guarani. The order was completed by December 2012.
In March 2014, the 33rd Motorized Infantry Battalion of the 15th Mechanized Infantry Brigade will receive the first 13 vehicles. It will be the first regular army unit to be issued the new vehicle. It will be part of trials using the initial 86 vehicles to figure out doctrine for its use in service.
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In 2018 the 30th Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Uberlandia-MG received 30 armored vehicles VBTP-MR Guarani.
In 2020, The 14th Mechanized Cavalry Regiment of São Miguel do Oeste also received ten VBTP-MR Guarani equipped with the Remax tower.
In 2021 the 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, in Campinas-SP, was equipped with more than 126 armored vehicles VBTP-MR Guarani. In July, the first units of the Brazilian Army in the northeast of the country started to receive the first Guarani vehicles, an example of the 10th Mechanized Cavalry Squadron of the 11th Infantry Brigade.
On August 4, 2021 it was the turn of the 41st Motorized Infantry Battalion, it becomes the newest military organization to be equipped with the armored personnel transport vehicle, medium on wheels (VBTP-MSR) 6X6 Guarani, with the receipt of eight units, all with SARC REMAX.

Operator`S
Brazil
 - Brazilian Army: 526+, Deliveries started in December 2012 four pre-series and 50 purchased. 86 units were ordered in December 2012, with 2,044 units of the 6x6 variant total ordered (finish by 2030).
Ghana
 - Ghana Army: 11 ordered in July 2021 equipped with REMAX turret.
Lebanon
 - Lebanese Army: 10 units ordered in 2015.
Philippines
 - Philippine Army: Elbit Systems won the Philippine Army's Armored Personnel Carrier Acquisition Project and supplied 28 units of the Guarani 6x6 APC to the Army. The contract was signed for USD$47 million.