Image source: topwar.ru
To replace the fleet of obsolete armored vehicles EE-09 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu, the Brazilian Defense Ministry, together with the Italian company IVECO, has established the production of a new VBTP-MR Guarani armored personnel carrier on the basis of its repair shops. The first deliveries to the army began in 2012. In just 18 years, it was planned to produce 2,044 vehicles for the needs of the local military, their production is still going on (a year ago, the 500th Guarani copy was delivered to the Brazilian army).
Guarani also began to gradually make its way to the foreign market. Lebanon has purchased 16 pieces of equipment. Argentina, Malaysia and other countries are showing interest in the APC. A trial batch was purchased by the Philippines, whose authorities were considering the possibility of buying 114 armored personnel carriers.
- it is noted in the Brazilian press.
However, now it will not be so easy to pick them up. At the end of February, the German government decided to punish Brazil for its intransigence in the Ukrainian issue, preventing the sale of armored personnel carriers with German components on the world market, despite the fact that Guarani is the intellectual property of the Brazilian military department.
- noted in The Rio Times.
In this regard, the Brazilian Defense Ministry decided to create a version of Guarani 2.0 by "introducing improvements to the car, including replacing German-made components."