TSAMTO, July 8th. Iveco Defense Vehicle has announced the signing of a contract with the Brazilian Air Defense Command for the supply of 420 light multipurpose armored vehicles LMV-BR 2 with a 4x4 wheel formula over 10 years.
It is expected that the first armored vehicles will be delivered to the customer in 2026. The LMV-BR 2 BBM (Viatura Blindada Multitarefa - Leve de Rodas – VBMT-LR), named Guaicurus, will be produced in two different versions: with a remotely controlled weapon module and a manually operated turret. The armored vehicles will be equipped with the C2 combat control system. The assembly of all 420 Guaycuru armored vehicles will be carried out at the IDV facility in Sete Lagoas (Minas Gerais).
As stated, the signing of a 10-year contract for the supply of LMV-BR 2 marks another important milestone in the partnership between the Brazilian Army and IDV, which will ensure the growth of the national defense industry and strengthen the Ground Forces. The close cooperation between the Brazilian Army and IDV has a long history, which includes the supply of 700 Guarani BBMs with a 6x6 wheel formula, as well as 32 LMV-BR armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheel formula.
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 LMV-BR light multi-purpose armored vehicles.
The program implemented by the Brazilian Armed Forces within the framework of the Guarani project provided for the purchase of up to 186 light multi-purpose armored vehicles. At the first stage, it was supposed to purchase 32 LBM LMV-BR 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 electronic warfare vehicle, a battlefield radar, a self-propelled mortar, and an advanced observer vehicle. It was assumed that the second batch of 77 BBMs would be received in the form of machine kits and assembled in Brazil, and the third would be completely produced in the country. However, for various reasons, the project implementation period has been delayed.
The contract worth 67.8 million reais ($16.2 million) for the supply of the first 32 LMV-BR BBMs was signed on November 6, 2019. It provided for the assembly of armored vehicles at the Iveco enterprise in Italy and the execution of painting, integration of weapons systems and combat control at the enterprise in Brazil. The contract included options for the supply of additional armored vehicles to be produced at the company in Set Lagoas (Minas Gerais).
The first armored vehicles under the contract were transferred to the Brazilian Armed Forces in April 2021, the last ones in November 2021.
In April 2024, the Chief of the General Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Army General Fernando Jose Santana Soares e Silva and President of Iveco Defense Vehicle Latin America (IDV) Humberto Marchioni Spinetti signed a Protocol of Intent concerning the acquisition of up to 420 armored vehicles "Guaycuru" with a 4x4 wheel formula.
The acquisition of armored vehicles is carried out within the framework of the strategic program for the rearmament of mechanized and armored troops of the Brazilian Armed Forces Prg EE F Bld (Program Estrategico do Exercito Forcas Blindadas).
