In May, French armoured and tactical vehicles manufacturer Renaults Trucks Defense (part of Volvo Group) has trialed its SHERPA 2 patrol carrier and SHERPA 3 FS (Forces Spéciales) rapid intervention vehicle in Portugal at three Army and Navy facilities (BrigMec, OGME facilities in Lisbon and at the Fuzileiros base).

The company has also trialed the vehicles in Spain on a demonstration for the Spanish Navy Infanteria de Marina.

With its SHERPA´s, Renaults Trucks Defense is looking to place its light vehicle as the winner of the Portuguese Ministry of Defence procurement agency DGAED (Direcção Geral de Armamento e Equipamentos de Defesa) VTLB (Viatura Táctica Ligeira com Blindagem) 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicle programme. A RFP (Request For Proposals) is expected to be launched before the end of 2009 or during early 2010. The MoD first planned to launch the RFP in March 2008 but the decision has since been delayed. The procurement will can be made in several batches rather than a contract for all the 150 vehicles in several configurations.

(All pictures courtesy of Renault Trucks Defense).

The VTLB programme call for the procurement of 101 protected vehicles for the Portuguese Army BRR (Brigada de Reação Rápida) special forces brigade, 33 for Navy Corpo de Fuzileiros da Armada marine corp and 16 for the Portuguese Air Force military police in order to replace the CONDOR 4×4 armoured carrier.

Other possible contenders includes vehicles from URO Vehículos Especiales SA, BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa, Iveco DV SpA, AM General LLC, Mowag GmbH and Panhard General Defense.