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2024-02-01

Guarani Modular Mastery, Armoured Precision

The Guarani, a 20-tonne 6×6 armoured amphibious vehicle, is a joint development by IDV and the Brazilian Army under a 2009 contract. Powered by an FPT 9-litre, 279kW (380hp) bi-fuel common-rail engine, coupled with an automatic gearbox and a fully independent McPherson-type suspension system, the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) efficiently transports up to 11 fully equipped personnel.

Measuring 6.9m in length, 2.7m in width, and 2.3m in height, the Guarani is C-130 Hercules and KC-390 transport aircraft-compatible. With versatility in mind, it accommodates manned and unmanned turrets for weapons ranging from 5.56 to 30mm calibre.

Its modular design minimises re-engineering efforts, reducing lead times and costs. The Guarani family offers optimal power, protection, and payload combinations, operational flexibility, and enhanced maintainability, supporting easy upgrades.

Adaptable to roles such as personnel carrier, command post, recovery, ambulance, mortar carrier, communication and reconnaissance, its simple and robust design ensures operational support with greater deployment and employment flexibility.

More than 650 units have been produced so far for a range of different end users.

Guarani Initiative

In 1999, the Brazilian Army sought to replace the ageing EE-9 Cascavel and EE-11 Urutu vehicles, recognising their obsolescence in peacekeeping missions. Urban combat experiences revealed their shortcomings, leading to a bid in 2007 for a new armoured vehicle, resulting in the VBTP-MR Guarani 6x6 partnership with IDV in 2009.

The vehicle entered service in 2012, offering modular capabilities for armour and armaments. It currently serves in APC Infantry and cavalry versions, forming the basis for a new family of combat vehicles, potentially evolving to 8×8 configurations. The project aims to deliver 1,580 units to the Brazilian ground forces by 2040, providing a modern, cost-effective replacement for its predecessors.

The APC version is named VBTP-MR, denoting its function as an ‘Armoured Car for Personal Transport, as per the Brazilian Army.

The suffix ‘Guarani’ pays tribute to the indigenous Guarani tribe, signifying ‘Warrior’ in English, reflecting an imposing name and honouring the region’s historical inhabitants.

Affordable Design

The Guarani 6x6 is engineered for versatility across various theatres, serving as a standardised platform for the Brazilian mechanised cavalry. Designed for the low and high-intensity theatres, it replaces outdated Engesa vehicles. Leveraging a family of vehicles concept, it remains cost-effective by incorporating pre-existing automotive components, including elements from the IVECO trucks.

Hull Structure

The Guarani is 6.91 metres (22.6 feet) long, 2.7 metres (8.8 feet) wide, and 2.34 (7.6 feet) metres tall. It has a hull composed of German steel supplied by the company Thyssen-Krupp with a V-shaped hull floor. The engine is positioned in the front right of the vehicle.

The armour on the lower hull is placed at an angle of approximately 50º. The upper hull plate is at an angle of 15º from the horizontal. It has four headlights which are located on both sides of the frontal upper hull plate.

The driver’s hatch has three vision blocks besides a windshield that can be folded down. The air outlet of the radiator is located right next to the driver’s hatch, and the toolbox (axe and shovel) is located above the engine in front of the radiator outlet. The vehicle has a frontal trim vane. Two small hatches for engine maintenance are located just above the trim vane.

Behind the driver’s hatch, the commander’s hatch, equipped with three vision blocks, is situated. A customisable turret ring, dependent on the vehicle’s armament, is located behind the commander’s hatch. The gunner occupies a secure compartment just behind the engine. At the rear, two rectangular hatches enable troop egress and firing, with four in the troop transport version without a weapon system.

Multiple Fixing Points

The vehicle features multiple fixing points for upgrade packages, flotation blocks, and baggage racks. With the exhaust and NBC filter cover on the right side, the vehicle includes a rear ramp, an emergency hatch, and a communication telephone. Rear headlights, centred below the phone, enhance visibility.

Technical enhancements include a rear camera and the option for two additional side cameras, offering a 360° view. For amphibious propulsion, the Guarani mounts two Bosch Rexroth A2FM80 propellers. There are two antenna couplings at the top rear. All hatches are sealed, providing chemical and biological defence.

It has numerous electronic components for internal monitoring of the crew, a digital panel for the driver, and a 24V CANBUS electrical system. Driver cameras are mounted at the rear, but some can be mounted on the sides as well. The command and control system consists of two Harris Falcon III radios with integrated GPS, a Thales SOTAS intercom, and a Geocontrol CTM1-EB computer.

The troop compartment is located at the rear of the vehicle. Up to eight fully equipped soldiers can be transported, depending on the variant. Depending on the theatre, the benches and floor plate of the troop compartment are heightened and have no contact with the lower hull plate in order to increase crew survivability against Improvised Explosive Devices and mines.

The base crew comprises three members – the driver, gunner, and commander. In troop transport mode, it accommodates eight soldiers, totalling 11 crew members. Future versions will support three to six crewmembers, depending on the variant.

Turret Variations

The Guarani 6x6 can be seen in multiple versions. The version VBTP is armed with a REMAX RCWS turret (Remote Controlled Weapon System). This is a general-purpose turret, which is mounted on various Guaranis. The machine guns are removed when the Guarani with a REMAX turret is used during humanitarian missions. The other version is with PLATT MR-550 turret, meant for low-intensity and peacekeeping missions.

Developed in partnership with ARES and CTEx, the REMAX is a remotely operated light turret with a 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun, a secondary FN MAG 7.62 mm machine gun, four 76 mm smoke grenade launchers, laser rangefinders, and night-day and thermal sensors. Multiple Guaranis are armed with this turret.

REMAN Turrets

In June 2020, ARES offered two REMAN turrets to (AGR) Rio Arsenal of War for testing on the Guarani, potentially replacing the Australian ALLAN PLATT. Introduced at BID Brazil 2016 and finalised at LAAD 2017, the REMAN turret offers manual operation, STANAG 4569 Level 2 ballistic protection, and compatibility with FN MAG and M2HB weapons. Undergoing Brazilian Army testing in mid-September 2021, no additional details have been released.

The hull is made of homogenous High Hardness Steel with a Brinell hardness value of 500. This type of high hardness steel is used for many vehicles of its class.

Based on Stanag levels, an estimation of the Guarani’s armour can be made by referencing manufacturers of 500 Brinell armour plates (plates used: Armox 500T, Miilux Protection 500, and Swebor 500). Through cross-referencing multiple types of plates and the needed plate thicknesses to comply with the corresponding Stanag level, a reasonably accurate minimum plate thickness estimate can be made.

Steel Plate Thickness

The Guarani’s base configuration, without added armour, meets STANAG 4569 Level 2 against gunfire from all sides. This ensures resilience to 7.62 x 51 mm AP rounds at a 30-meter distance, estimating an armour thickness of at least 20 to 24 mm.

Frontal armour withstands 12.7 x 99 mm AP rounds at 100 metres, achieving STANAG Level 3+ with an approximate steel thickness of 24 to 35 mm. The Guarani is STANAG Level 2 rated against artillery shrapnel, offering protection from 155 mm artillery shrapnel at an 80-metre distance.

Armour Upgrades

The Guarani offers three key armour upgrade packages:

AMAP-L Spall Liner: Reducing spalling cone angles from 87 to 17 degrees, the AMAP-L enhances troop compartment survivability against projectiles, missiles, and explosive devices.

ALLTEC Modular Composite Armour: Developed by ALLTEC Materiais Compostos, this modular system undergoes rigorous development stages, stopping 12.7×99 mm AP rounds at 100 metres. Complying with STANAG level 3+, it adds protection against 155 mm shrapnel and provides STANAG level 2a protection against explosives. The upgrade includes anti-mine seats, and the armour, weighing 1.2 tonnes, can be easily bolted onto the vehicle.

Plasan UFF and HSF: Manufactured by Plasan, UFF (Ultra Flex Fence) and HSF (Hybrid Slat Fence) offer protection against rocket-propelled grenades. Compatible with the ALLTEC package, these add-on armour options can be used simultaneously.

Terra-Aqua Dominator

The vehicle has an FPT Cursor 9 – 6 cylinder 383 hp (280 kW) diesel bi-fuel engine (it can run on kerosene). This allows the 18.5-tonne vehicle (20.4 US tons) to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) on roads.

On rough terrain, an average of 70 km/h (43 mph) can be reached, and an operational range of 600 km (372 miles) on roads.

The engine can produce a torque of 1,500 Nm at 1,400 rpm, and 280 kW (383 hp) of power at 1,600 to 2,100 rpm, which gives the vehicle a power to weight ratio of 22 hp/t for its base amphibious version.

The Guarani uses a ZF Friedrichshafen 6HP602S automatic transmission, which has six forward gears and 1 reverse. The driving axles are made from aluminium and the tyres have a Run-Flat Hutchinson system, which allows the vehicle to continue driving for 60 kilometres after the tyres have been punctured.

The Guarani uses a 6×6 CTIS suspension system. The CTIS, or Central Tyre Inflation System, allows the Guarani to control the pressure in the tires. This is done to achieve greater grip and safety in certain situations.

If needed, the vehicle can drive in a 6×4 configuration as well. It has two differentials. The first is located on the front axle and the second on the rear axle. The middle axle is driven by a transfer box differential which makes it a 6×6 vehicle. The individual axles have hydropneumatic dampeners.

The Guarani has a ground clearance of 0.45 metres, can climb a slope 60 per cent, and can cross a 1.3 metres trench. It can cross obstacles of 0.5 metres high, and has a turning radius of nine metres.

Without preparations, it has a fording depth of 0.43 metres. The vehicle is able to cross rivers at 9 km/h when prepared with stabilisers, bilge pumps, and two Bosch Rexroth A2FM80 propellers. The bilge pumps are located in the engine and troop compartments, which are meant to pump out water entering the vehicle. In order to stay stable in the river, it uses a front stabilising system.

Family of Vehicles

The platform is intended for a family of vehicles, spanning Fire Support to ambulance variants. Whether all planned vehicles will be realised remains uncertain. Currently, Brazil plans to deploy five variants, with the VBTP Guarani being already with completed development. The other five variants are still in active development.

Global Traction

IDV aims to market the Guarani in all the word due to its cost-effectiveness.

Lebanon was the first customer, purchasing 16 APCs in 2015. Argentina, considering wheeled vehicles since 2008, showed renewed interest in 2011, evaluating the Guarani in 2012. Despite negotiations, no procurement occurred, and they explored other options, including Chinese vehicles and the Stryker.

In October 2020, the Argentinian Minister of Defence visited the IDV factory in Brazil, expressing interest in the Guarani, and trials were conducted in 2021, yielding positive results, but no official orders have been placed yet.

The Philippines ordered 28 Guarani vehicles in a deal with Elbit Systems for the modernisation of the Philippine Army, including Sabrah light tanks and Pandur fire support vehicles. The vehicle is expected to be armed with a 12.7 mm HMG and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, potentially in a manned turret or RCWS.

Ghana signed a contract in July 2021 for the initial order of 11 Guarani vehicles, to be armed with a Remote-Controlled Weapon Station provided by ARES, the manufacturer of the REMAX RCWS. Details regarding the application of the REMAX RCWS on the Ghanese Guarani are yet to be confirmed.

These international engagements highlight its appeal in various regions, driven by its cost, versatility, and effectiveness. The vehicle’s ability to meet the specific needs of different countries, coupled with the potential for local spare part production, contributes to its attractiveness as a military asset. While trials and evaluations have been successful, actual procurement is contingent on budget considerations and ongoing negotiations between manufacturers and potential operators.

Triumphant Evolution

In conclusion, the Guarani stands as a triumphant successor to the iconic EE-11 Urutu after five decades. As a modular and modern vehicle, it seamlessly integrates into the contemporary battlefield, aligning with Brazil’s geopolitical aspirations.

Revered as the new pride of the Brazilian Army, its national production, albeit at 60 per cent, marks a milestone, bringing advanced vehicle-building technology to the country. The Guarani project has attained its goal, showcasing Brazil’s capacity to forge ahead in military innovation and maintain a formidable presence on the global stage.

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