The Marruá ("Wild Bull") is a family of four-by-four wheeled transport and utility vehicles, built by Agrale in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Developed in the early 2000s to serve as a replacement for aging jeeps and other vehicles in Brazilian service (Bandeirante and JPX), it has also been adopted by several other South American armies, and is used on peacekeeping missions with the United Nations in Haiti.

Design

Following the bankruptcy of Engesa in early 1990, former employees of the company acquired the rights to the Engesa EE-4/EE-12 utility vehicle, and, working with the Agrale company, developed an improved version of the vehicle between 2003 and 2005 to meet a specification for a 1/2 ton, 4x4 Viatura de Transporte Não Especializada (Non-Specialised Transport Vehicle, VTNE) for the Armed Forces of Brazil, to replace the Jeeps previously in service. Three prototypes were constructed for testing by the Brazilian Army, with Agrale investing $11 million into the project, and the Marruá was accepted for Brazilian service on 27 July 2005. Designed to be versatile, robust, and easy to maintain, the Marruá underwent over 60000 mi of testing during its development, and is capable of carrying four fully equipped soldiers, anti-tank missile launchers, recoilless rifles, machine guns, or communications equipment.

Models

Current models of the Marruá are:

Military versions

Military 4x4's featuring MWM motors meeting Euro III standards.

Civil versions

Former Versions

Bortana EV

Safescape, an Australian mine safety company and Marrua importer, produces an electric version of the Marrua called the Bortana EV for use in underground mines. The Bortana EV replaces the ICE of the Marrua with a 160kW electric motor which has 350Nm of torque. The Bortana EV has a payload of two tons.

Operational history

The Marruá has entered service with both the Brazilian Army and the Brazilian Marine Corps, in addition to being acquired by the armies of Ecuador and Argentina, the latter using eighteen vehicles as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti starting in 2009.

Operators

Argentine Air Force Argentine Marines Argentine National Gendarmerie Brazilian Navy Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Marine Corps Military Police Namibian Army Namibian Special Forces

Specifications

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Dimensions

Weights

Performance

Transmission

Engine