Back in 2019, the Brazilian Army signed a contract, according to which it has to receive 32 military LMV-BR armored vehicles. And now, the press release of Iveco Defense Vehicles appeared, which informs that on April 27, 2021, during a ceremony held at the Iveco Defense Vehicles factory in Sit Lagos, Brazil, the first LMV-BR 4x4 vehicle was delivered.
The ceremony was attended both by representatives of the Italian company as well as officials of the Brazilian army. As the press release informs, the remaining 31 vehicles of the contracted quantity will be delivered by 2022 as part of the modernization process of the Brazilian army.
LMV-BR 4x4 Light Multirole Vehicle Features
LMV-BR military vehicles should be equipped with a remotely controlled machine gun REMAX (Reparo de Metralhadora Automatizado X) assembled by ARES Aeroespacial & Defesa (Brazilian branch of the Israeli group Elbit Systems). In addition, they include Command and Control systems.
The LMV-BR armored vehicles are just the first step in the supply of Iveco LMV armored vehicles to the Brazilian army. Recall that back in April 2016, the Brazilian Army selected an Iveco LMV vehicle for purchase in a tender under the VBMT-LSR program. However, pre-contract negotiations dragged on for three and a half years because of several reasons, including economic problems in Brazil.
More Military Vehicles Are Coming
After the direct purchase of 32 light armored vehicles LMV-BR from the manufacturer, subsequently, the VBMT-LSR program includes the purchase of two more batches of 77 light armored vehicles for the Brazilian army. There should be seven versions such as multipurpose, command, light mortar transporter, ATGM carrier, reconnaissance radar carrier, electronic warfare vehicle, and forward artillery observer vehicle.
At the same time, the first 77 cars should already be assembled from vehicle kits in Brazil, and the next 77 should be assembled under a license with an increased share of localization. The assembly of these vehicles is supposed to be at the Iveco Veículos de Defesa enterprise of the Iveco group in the Brazilian city of Seti Lagoas (Minas Gerais state), where, since 2012, the VBTP-MR Guarani armored personnel carrier developed by Iveco for the Brazilian army has been assembled with a 6x6 wheel formula.
Source: Iveco Defence Vehicles