The VBTP is a new family of 19,6 tonnes 6x6 armoured, amphibious vehicles, developed jointly by Iveco and the Brazilian Army (DCT - Department of Science and Technology) following the contract signed in 2009. Fitted with an Iveco-FPT 9-litre, 281 kW (383 HP) bi-fuel common-rail engine, coupled to an automatic gearbox, the VBTP can carry 11 personnel. It is 7.0 metres long, 2.7 metres wide and 2.3 metres in height and can be transported by C-130 Hercules and KC-390 aircrafts.
This new family of armoured vehicles can be equipped with manned and unmanned turrets carrying armament from 5.56 to 30 mm. The adoption of a modular approach to product development provides numerous advantages including development of product variants without unnecessary re-engineering (reducing timescales and costs), optimum combination of power, protection and payload, flexibility in operation, support through improved maintainability and ease of upgrade. With different configurations to fulfil roles including personnel carrier, command post, recovery, ambulance, etc, the VBTP family will meet a whole range of operational needs.