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The Sherpa scout is pictured here in the Brazilian Tupi variant with a REMAX system. It has been chosen by states such as Egypt, Kosovo, Lebanon, Indonesia, and India. Source: Victor Barreira
The Brazilian Army's Manufacturing Directorate (DF) has shortlisted local companies Avibras Indústria Aeroespacial and Iveco Veículos de Defesa as final bidders for the lightweight wheeled multirole protected vehicle (Viatura Blindada Multitarefa - Leve de Rodas: VBMT-LR) programme.
Both companies are invited to attend 4 August meeting to receive instructions regarding technical and commercial proposal deliveries, and to outline draft contracts. Final proposals are to be delivered on 18 August for procurement of an initial 32 vehicles.
No timeline was established, but a source involved on the programme told IHS Jane'sthat a contract is scheduled to be awarded by the end of 2015. Still, the final number of vehicles to be procured is subject to budget availability, the source added.
Avibras is proposing the Tupi, a local modification of France's Renault Trucks Defense Sherpa Light Scout, and Iveco is proposing the Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV) from its Italian parent company. Both were trialed in Brazil in 2014 at the army's Evaluations Center (CAEx).
The two companies, as well as AM General/Plasan and BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa (now part of Denel) delivered proposals on 23 January after a request for proposals (RfP) was issued in October 2014.
Requirements called for a platform with 4x4 or 4x2 traction, featuring an 8 ton maximum gross vehicle weight, 2.2 m height, 1 ton payload, 90 km/h top speed, and 500 km maximum range. Standard required fittings include a diesel engine, automatic transmission, central tire inflation system, air conditioning equipment, 76 mm smoke grenades dischargers, cabin for 5 personnel offering NATO STANAG 4569 protection level against 7.62x51 mm and 6 kg mines, and provision for an NBC protection system.
Armament will consists of ARES Aeroespacial & Defesa REMAX remote-controlled weapon station or W&E Platt MR550 shielded ring mount armed with 7.62x51 mm or 12.7x99 mm machine gun, or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
The VBMT-LR programme element of the army's Strategic Project Guarani (PEE Guarani) calls for the initial 32 vehicles in a single multirole configuration, followed later by two tranches of 77 vehicles each in anti-tank, command post, electronic warfare, battlefield radar, mortar, and forward observation variants.
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Brazilian Army downselects companies for 4x4 programme - IHS Jane's 360
