The VBTP is a new family of 18 tonne 6x6 armoured, amphibious vehicles. It uses an Iveco-FPT 9-litre, 281 kW (383 HP) bi-fuel common-rail engine, coupled to an automatic gearbox. It is capable of carrying 11 soldiers. The vehicle is 7.0 metres long, 2.7 metres wide and 2.3 metres high can be transported by C-130 Hercules and KC-390 aircrafts. The VBTP can be equipped with manned and unmanned turrets carrying armament from 5.56 to 30 mm.

The vehicle are being produced in a new production unit in Sete Lagoas (Brazil). With an estimated production capacity of more than 100 units per year and deliveries scheduled for the next 20 years, the new plant started production in 2013.

The Brazilian Army has named the VBTP vehicle as “Guarani”. The Guarani is designed to provide the basis for a family of vehicles capable of filling a multitude of roles. The adoption of a modular approach to product development provides a number of advantages such as product variety without un-necessary re-engineering (reducing timescales and costs), optimum combination of power, protection and payload and flexibility in operation and support through improved serviceability and ease of upgrade. With different configurations to fulfil such roles as personnel carrier, reconnaissance, rescue, ambulance, etc, it will meet a whole range of operational needs and will reinforce the Army’s operational capability in scenarios which are particularly suited to this type of vehicle.

The use of COTS main assemblies (Commercial Off The Shelf) ensures outstanding levels of reliability and consequently excellent fleet availability, ease of maintenance and low whole life costs.