Avibras is one of the finalists in the selection process conducted by the Brazilian Army (EB) for the acquisition of a Light Wheeled Multi-Task Armored Vehicle (VBMT-LR) as part of the scope of the Army strategic project named Guarani. The TUPI 4x4 vehicle will be produced under license, in the new Avibras‘ armored vehicles manufacturing facility in Jacareí, São Paulo, in response to a progressive process to increase the domestic content in the Military Programs. This is also the result of the cooperation between Avibras and Renault Trucks Defense. The VBMT-LR vehicle will complete the new family of armored wheeled vehicles, planned to restructure and modernize the capacity of the Ground Forces of the Brazilian Army (EB).
The Board of Manufacturing (DF), an agency of the EB’s Department of Science and Technology disclosed on July 17th, 2015 a request for negotiation and guidance for presentation of the Final Technical-Commercial Proposal related to the process of acquisition by nationalization of the VBMT-LR.

Avibras will deliver the final technical-commercial proposal to the Board of Manufacturing on August 18th and has high hopes that the decision to be made by the EB will be favorable in the light of the exceptional performance characteristics offered by the TUPI, emphasizing among them, a high load capacity, extreme mobility and ability to overcome ground obstacles due to its great power and high torque engine, the efficient transmission and robust suspension.

The vehicle also stands out by its proven ballistic protection, anti-mines and against IED's (Improvised Explosive Devices) for all five crew members, in addition to the large internal space for the crew and its large cargo bay.

These unique characteristics of the TUPI 4x4 will allow the installation of command and control systems in the VBMT-LR and also its configuration into the several versions planned for this vehicle.

At the end of November 2013, the EB issued a Plan of Evaluation and Acceptance to both national and foreign companies interested in participating in the process of evaluation and inspection, followed by tests.

For five months, Avibras and Renault Trucks Defense integrated its capabilities to carefully design and prepare the armored vehicle TUPI 4x4 in order to meet all the requirements presented in the Evaluation and Acceptance Plan issued by EB. TUPI was presented to the Brazilian Army Assessments Center (CAEx) in April 2014, having performed all tests with a payload 40% above the required, thus demonstrating its excellent performance.

High capacity - the armored vehicle TUPI 4x4 is based on the SHERPA LIGHT SCOUT Vehicle. This is one of the five versions of the SHERPA LIGHT family of vehicles, being a great platform that provides high load capacity (2.5 tons) and a total weight of 8 tons, meeting all levels of ballistic protection and mine protection required by EB.

The spacious and ergonomic armored cabin has four doors, five seats and allows the installation of various equipments, according to the version of the vehicle and its mission.

The flexible and modular ceiling design and the load capacity of the vehicle allow easy installation of weapon systems as specified by the EB such as the X-REMAX Automated Repair, which is domestically manufactured. The basic armored cabin has provision for installation of additional armoring, enabling the vehicle to be used during peacetime in a lighter version, optimizing fuel consumption, saving tires, brakes and minimizing wearing. In tactical missions, the available additional armor kits provide several possibilities for protection to the crew.

The extensive combination of weapons systems and armored protection is only possible thanks to the TUPI 4x4 high load capacity, a result of the use of the robust motor/transmission/axle assembly of Renault Trucks Defense, which ensures high mobility even with the vehicle loaded on its maximum capacity of 10.5 tons.

Avibras has the industrial capacity to rapidly respond to any urgent demand of the Brazilian Armed Forces with the internationally recognized quality of a defense company, which has been in the market for more than 54 years.