The Argentine Minister of Defense Jorge Taiana and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mauro Vieira, signed a letter of intent to promote negotiations between the Argentine Army (EA) and the company I veco Defense Veichle IDV, with the aim of to acquire 156 armored personnel transport vehicles – medium on wheels (VBTP-MSR) 6X6 Guarani.
Of the 156 units required, 120 would be troop transport units (VCBR-TP), equipped with the REMAX 4 remote-controlled weapon system (SARC); 27 infantry fighting vehicles (VCBR-CI), equipped with SARC UT30BR2; and nine command post vehicles (VCBR-PC). The SARC is supplied by ARES Aerospace and Defense.
The Guarani is an armored vehicle developed according to the requirements of the Brazilian Army (EB), the intellectual owner of the project, to meet the needs of its mechanized forces. It is produced in IDV’s Sete Lagoas (MG) unit.
This purchase is part of the Argentine Army’s VCBR (Armored Combat Vehicles to Ruedas) program, which involves the production of many of its components, such as engines, at the IVeco factory in the province of Córdoba, and represents a milestone for the governments of both countries. Between May and April 2021, the EB ceded, with a 30-day loan, a VBTP 6X6 Guarani, belonging to the 5th Mechanized Cavalry Regiment (5th RC Mec), to Argentina for evaluations, which influenced the choice of Brazilian vehicle. The start of the deployment came after talks between EB commander Army General Edson Leal Pujol and EA commander in early 2020.
From Technologia & Defesa magazine
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