The Brazilian Army is renegotiating with Iveco Defense Vehicles (IDV) the contract of the Guarani Strategic Program to reduce its order for 6×6 Guarani armored vehicles, according to sources in the Army High Command. The intention of the Brazilian ground force is to cut up to 600 units, to go from the 1,500 vehicles currently requested to 900.
To date, the factory that IDV owns in Sete Lagoas (MG) has produced just over 600 armored vehicles so, if the contractual changes are made in the terms that the Army wants, only less than 300 vehicles would remain. If the parties finally reach an agreement, this would be the second reduction of the order for armored vehicles, since originally 2,000 units had been ordered.
It is believed that it will take six more years to reach the goal of 900 Guarani armored vehicles delivered, maintaining the low production rate of 60 cars per year, which gives time to planners and managers of strategic programs to define the final acquisitions of the Guarani, especially in the case of dedicated/specialized versions.
The arrival of the Centauro II 8×8 should promote numerous impacts within the ground force, with more resources allocated to the Italian tank gradually, which may lead to the cancellation of modernization programs of old vehicles such as the Leopard 1A5 BR battle tanks and the 6×6 Engesa EE-9 Cascavel reconnaissance. the first still under studies and the second under the responsibility of the defense company Akaer.