According to a press release published on February 7, 2021, Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd. announced that it was awarded a contract valued at approximately $46 million to supply VBTP 6X6 Armored Personnel Carriers (“APCs”) to the army of a country in Asia-Pacific. The contract will be performed over a three-year period.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Brazilian army VBTP Guarani 6x6 armored personnel carrier. (Picture source Army Recognition Group)
As the prime contractor, Elbit Systems will supply the VBTP 6X6 wheeled APCs that were developed by Iveco Defence Vehicles (“Iveco”) in cooperation with the Brazilian Army. The VBTP 6X6 APCs will be equipped with Elbit Systems’ turrets and a range of the Company’s subsystems including electric drive and stabilization systems, fire control systems, TORCH-XTM battle management systems, E-LynXTM software-defined radio systems, gunner and commander sights as well as life support systems.
The VBTP also nicknamed Guarani is a 6×6 armored personnel carrier developed by the Italian company Iveco in collaboration with the Brazilian Army. In 2007, a contract was signed with Brazil a new 6x6 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier). The development of the new vehicle was completed by 2011.
In 2012 Brazil ordered the first batch of 86 Guarani armored personnel carriers that were delivered between 2013 and 2014. The full-scale production of the Guarani began in 2013. The Brazilian Army has signed with Iveco a contract worth about €2.5 billion for supplying 2,044 6x6 wheeled armored vehicles including 10 variants.
The VBTP Guarani design is divided into three main parts with the driver position and engine at the front, the weapon station in the middle, and the troop's compartment at the rear. The vehicle has a combat weight of 17,5 tons and has the amphibious capability.
The IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) version of the Brazilian army is fitted with an Israeli Elbit Systems remote-controlled weapon station ORCWS UT-30BR armed with one 30mm automatic cannon and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The armor of the Guaraní offers protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. The vehicle can carry up to 11 military personnel.
The VBTP Guaraní is motorized with an Iveco-FPT 9-litre, 281 kW (383 HP) bi-fuel common-rail engine coupled to an automatic gearbox. It can run at a maximum speed of 100 km/h with a maximum road range of 600 km.
