Monch reported that Israel-based international defense electronics company Elbit Systems has announced the sale of an initial quantity of 11 Iveco Defense GUARANI 6×6 armoured personnel carriers to Ghana, under a government-to-government sales similar to the arrangement recently announced with the Philippine Army. The vehicles will be manufactured by Iveco Defense Vehicles at its Brazilian facility in Sete Lagoas, and will feature a remotely-controlled weapon station (RCWS) similar to the REMAX, to be supplied by Ares Aeroespacial e Defesa.
The VBTP-MR Guarani (Viatura Blindada Transporte de Pessoal – Média de Rodas) 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 8×8 version of the VBTP-MR is the base 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).