VBTP-MR

VBTP-MR Guarani
An Iveco VBTP-MR on public display at the LAAD Defence & Security 2011 Expo at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Type	Armoured personnel carrier
Place of origin	Brazil
Production history
Manufacturer	Iveco
Specifications
Weight	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)
Speed	110 km/h (68 mph)

7.62 mm FN MAG MG

The 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 VBTP-MR is based on a 6×6 version 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).

In 1999 the Brazilian Army issued a request (ROB #09/99) for a new family of armored fighting vehicles with amphibious capabilities able to replace the EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu developed in the seventies. 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.

Currently, the VBTP-MR comes in different variants and versions:

The requirements for the VBTP-MR VBCI included an ELBIT remote control turret, equipped with a Mk44 Bushmaster II cannon and a 7.62mm 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 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.