The Brazilian Army has tested the second prototype of its upgraded UT30BR remote-controlled weapon system as part of efforts to modernize its armored vehicle fleet.
Held in Rio de Janeiro, the trials were overseen by personnel from the Manufacturing Directorate and the War Arsenal of Rio, who evaluated the system’s performance on the 6×6 Guarani armored personnel carrier.
The assessments included live-fire demonstrations to confirm the weapon’s proper integration and reliable operation under field conditions.
The project is being developed under a contract with ARES Aeroespacial e Defesa, a Duque de Caxias-based defense company responsible for modernizing the turret’s technology and adapting it for multiple armored platforms.
According to the army, the successful testing marks progress toward full evaluation before potential deployment.
Once approved, the system is expected to equip Guarani vehicles used for troop transport and battlefield support.
The UT30BR
The UT30BR features a 30-millimeter Mk44 Bushmaster II as a main gun, with selectable firing modes and typical cyclic rates of about 100 or 200 rounds per minute and an effective direct-fire range of roughly 2,000 to 3,000 meters (6,562 to 9,843 feet), depending on ammunition and optics.
It also includes a coaxial 7.62-millimeter machine gun, day and thermal cameras, a laser rangefinder, and a ballistic computer for aiming and tracking.
Gyro stabilization and automatic tracking enable the turret’s host vehicle to maintain precision fire on the move while keeping the operating crew safe inside the vehicle.
Installers can adjust the turret’s ammo capacity and protection based on the vehicle. Most configurations incorporate a dual-feed system that holds a few hundred rounds and include modular armor rated up to NATO STANAG 4569 level 2, which stops rifle fire and shell fragments.
