LAAD 2025: Brazil’s Guarani 6x6 Armored Vehicle Becomes Mobile Air Defense with SAAB RBS 70 Missiles.

At the LAAD 2025 defense exhibition held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Italian defense manufacturer Iveco Defence Vehicles unveiled a new air defense variant of the Guarani 6x6 amphibious armored vehicle. While this newly presented configuration is tailored for short-range air defense roles equipped with SAAB RBS 70 air defense missiles, other variants of the Guarani are already in operational service with the Brazilian Army, fulfilling roles such as troop transport, command and control, reconnaissance, and mortar carrier. (Picture source Zona Militar X Account)
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The new air defense variant of the Guarani 6x6 armored vehicle equipped with a remote weapon station and SAAB RBS 70 missiles on display at LAAD 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Picture source: Zona Militar X account)

The Guarani 6x6 armored vehicle, developed through a strategic partnership between Iveco Defence Vehicles and the Brazilian Army’s technology center (CTEx), is a cornerstone of Brazil’s land forces modernization. The project began in the early 2000s, with the first prototype revealed in 2009, followed by serial production starting in 2012. To date, over 600 units have been delivered to the Brazilian Army, replacing outdated EE-11 Urutu vehicles. Designed for high mobility and adaptability, the Guarani features a monocoque hull offering STANAG Level 2 ballistic protection, with the option for modular armor upgrades. It is powered by a 9-liter IVECO FPT turbocharged diesel engine delivering 383 horsepower, coupled with an automatic transmission and independent suspension system. The vehicle can operate in amphibious environments and traverse diverse terrain conditions, supporting a crew of three and up to eight fully equipped infantry soldiers.

The air defense variant unveiled at LAAD 2025 is fitted with a remotely operated weapon station equipped with three ready-to-launch SAAB RBS 70 surface-to-air missiles. This configuration significantly enhances the Guarani’s capabilities, enabling it to provide short-range air defense coverage against a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including drones, helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and cruise missiles.

The SAAB RBS 70 is a combat-proven, man-portable air defense system that uses laser beam-riding guidance, rendering it immune to common electronic countermeasures such as flares and jamming. The latest NG (New Generation) version integrates advanced optics, thermal imaging, and an automatic target tracker, ensuring day-and-night operational capability. Its Bolide missile variant boasts a maximum effective range of over 9 kilometers and altitude engagement up to 5,000 meters. With its high hit probability, rapid target engagement, and unmatched resilience in contested electromagnetic environments, the RBS 70 system enhances the vehicle’s lethality and survivability.

The development and deployment of mobile air defense systems like the Guarani RBS 70 variant underscore a growing necessity among modern armed forces to adapt to evolving battlefield threats. The increasing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), loitering munitions, and precision-guided air attacks has created a pressing need for agile, decentralized air defense capabilities that can move and fight alongside frontline units. Fixed air defense assets, while effective, are vulnerable to saturation attacks and may lack the flexibility required in fast-paced operations. By integrating advanced SHORAD systems on mobile platforms, armed forces can provide continuous, on-the-move protection to mechanized formations, logistics convoys, and command elements.

The unveiling of this new Guarani variant at LAAD 2025 not only demonstrates Iveco’s commitment to innovation but also highlights Brazil’s proactive approach to strengthening its ground-based air defense capabilities. It reflects a broader shift in global military doctrine toward integrated, mobile, and networked defense systems tailored to meet the challenges of both conventional and asymmetric warfare.