Speaking at Eurosatory in Paris on 12 June, Iveco company executives described the agreement with the Brazilian Army's Science and Technology Department, which will focus on the development of a 'wide variety' of vehicle configurations in order to help them fulfil roles including personnel carrier; reconnaissance; and ambulance.Interesting.
The deal follows a 2009 agreement in which the army contracted Iveco to supply 6X6 Guarani or VBTP platforms as part of a wider 2,044-strong family of APCs. Over 100 units will be manufactured each year at a new manufacturing plant in Sete Lagoas, Brazil from 2013 onwards. A first prototype, which was delivered in 2011, is currently 'performing very well' during tests in Rio de Janeiro, it was added.
Iveco CEO, Alfredo Altavilla said: 'The Brazilian Army has made a decision to follow-on with the development of a new version of Guarani for mechanised brigades. It will include the specific needs of infantry applications and configurations which are now under discussion.'
Officials added that an 8X8 variant would be considered as well as modifications to the internal layout of the existing Guarani platform. A final decision on the configuration is expected in the next few weeks with the new vehicle due to begin testing in 2013 and beyond.Guarani is an 18-ton platform which is powered by an FPT Industrial Cursor 9 engine with automatic gearbox. It is capable of carrying 11 personnel and can be airlifted by C-130 or KC-390 airframes.
Iveco's programme manager in Brazil, Paolo Del Noce, highlighted export potential in South America, saying: 'There is potential for sales in several world markets. The Argentinian Army has already demonstrated its interest. They are working with Brazil for a procurement in 2013.
Brazil and Iveco are teaming to develop the VBTP-MR into a multi-platform vehicle. Argentina has also stated that they intend to buy a couple of dozen of these vehicles and it all adds up Iveco having fully planted its flag in S. America.
Additionally with Brazil being the "front man" on this vehicle it should open more doors to unaligned countries...especially those in Africa and Asia.
I have no idea about how this vehicle fits into Iveco's broader sales campaign but it seems to be taking on more importance everyday.
What's confusing is the idea that an 8x8 version will be considered. Is that just the SuperAV under a different name?
What is the game here?
UPDATE:
My bud BB1984 made a statement in the comments section that deserves to be highlighted...
I was wondering that too. I dug around a little online and Iveco seems to be saying they have three distinct vehicle families:It possible but it makes me wonder. The VBTP-MR is also suppose to be blast/IED resistant. If it can be done with mostly automotive parts...and if they're looking to build it into an 8x8, while retaining its amphibious capability...and if they're successful in simplifying the complex drive system then what is the difference between the classes of vehicles? Questions remain but BB1984 has at least given us a starting point.
-- The SAT family, which includes these vehicles
-- The Super AV family
-- The Centauro family
The Centauro series is bigger and heavier and was not designed with amphibious performance in mind.
The Super AV was designed with amphibious performance in mind but also apparently with a goal of simplifying the overly complicated 8x8 drivetrains that are now common.
The difference between the Super AV line and the SAT line isn't clear to me. Iveco's site seems to say they are distinct, but not how they occupy different niches.
If I had to guess it would be that the SAT incorporates more truck components to keep costs down and make it more produceable in Brazil, but that is just a guess.
I was wondering that too. I dug around a little online and Iveco seems to be saying they have three distinct vehicle families:
ReplyDelete-- The SAT family, which includes these vehicles
-- The Super AV family
-- The Centauro family
The Centauro series is bigger and heavier and was not designed with amphibious performance in mind.
The Super AV was designed with amphibious performance in mind but also apparently with a goal of simplifying the overly complicated 8x8 drivetrains that are now common.
The difference between the Super AV line and the SAT line isn't clear to me. Iveco's site seems to say they are distinct, but not how they occupy different niches.
If I had to guess it would be that the SAT incorporates more truck components to keep costs down and make it more produceable in Brazil, but that is just a guess.
can you send me the link to that?
ReplyDeleteDid a quick check and the VBTP seems to be narrower than the Super AV.
ReplyDeleteFor the comments about SAT line vs. Super AV see Iveco Defense Vehicles brochure here:
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=8&refresh=9Pm1L05s3w0C&EID=f6ba0c9f-19d7-45ac-8e66-0e78eb3b3aad&skip=&p=8
on re-reading it, the SAT line also appears to be a weight class down from the Super AV.
yeah i noticed the VBTP being lighter than the superav but i chalked that up to the fact that its 6 instead of 8 wheeled and has more internal volume (to help increase bouyancy?) i also noted the width difference but also chalked that up to the desire to make it swim better.
ReplyDeleteI saw another snippet that implied the "Super AV" got its name because it is an enlarged version of an older "AV" design with added volume for increased buoyancy.
ReplyDeleteIf this is the case then my initial guess may be wrong and what we may be seeing is that the Super AV is essentially a wider VBTP, with the increased power and presumably beefed up drivetrain to handle the extra weight.
Another possibility is that there was an older "AV" design, presumably paper only, whose development forked into the VBTP and the larger, more powerful Super AV.
Finally, a Brazilian site profiling the VBTP said it was actually developed from the much lighter Puma design. The Puma was so much lighter that I'd reject this out of hand except that the VBTP seems to have a skewed wheel profile similar to the 6x6 Puma. If this is true its development was a scale up from the Puma, not a scale down of the Centauro. If there was an original "AV" design that was a scaled up Puma this would all hang together.