TSAMTO, April 29. During the ceremony held at the plant in Set Lagoas (Minas Gerais), Iveco Defense Vehicles handed over to the Brazilian Army the first (out of 32 ordered) light armored vehicle 4x4 LMV-BR (Viatura Blindada Multitarefa, Leve de Rodas).
The event, which took place on April 27, was attended by representatives of the company and the NE of Brazil. The transfer of the armored vehicle took place in accordance with the contract signed in 2019.
As planned, the delivery of another 31 armored vehicles of this batch will be completed by 2022. The project provides for the purchase of up to 186 armored vehicles. Iveco Defense Vehicles expects to start production of the next batches in 2022. In addition to the well-known standard characteristics of the LMV, the supplied BBMs will be equipped with weapons and command and control systems selected by the customer.
Iveco Defense Vehicles also produces 6x6 floating armoured VBTP Guarani vehicles for the Brazilian Army. Since the signing of the contract in 2009, more than 480 BBMs of this type have been delivered to the customer since 2012. The VBTP batch was exported abroad.
As reported by CAMTO, in April 2016, the Brazilian Air Defense Command selected the Iveco LMV BBM as the winner of the tender for the supply of light multi-purpose armored vehicles VBMT-LSR.
The program implemented by the Brazilian Armed Forces under the Guarani project provided for the acquisition of up to 186 light multi-purpose armored vehicles. At the first stage, it was supposed to purchase 32 BBM in the configuration of a patrol car. In the future, another 154 armored vehicles were planned to be purchased in the period from 2020 to 2023 in two tranches of 77 vehicles in various versions, including a self-propelled ATGM, a control vehicle, an EW vehicle, a battlefield radar, a self-propelled mortar, and an advanced observer vehicle. It was assumed that the second batch of 77 BBMs will be received in the form of machine kits and assembled in Brazil, and the third will be completely produced in the country. However, for various reasons, the project implementation period is delayed.
The contract for the supply of the first 32 LMV-BR BBMs was signed on November 6, 2019. Under the terms of the agreement, worth 67.8 million reais ($16.2 million), the armored vehicles will be assembled at Iveco's facility in Italy. The processes of painting, integration of weapons and combat control systems and transfer to the customer are carried out at the company in Brazil. The contract includes options for the supply of additional armored vehicles to be produced at the plant in Set Lagoas.
In September 2018, the Brazilian Armed Forces also purchased 16 light BBM VTLM-K2 "Lins" with a 4x4 wheel formula, which is an upgraded version of the LMV armored vehicles in service with the Italian Armed Forces.
