The Danto (Tapir) (6 × 6) armoured personnel carrier was developed to meet the requirements of the Guatemalan Army for a support vehicle armed with a 20 mm cannon to bridge the gap between the 12.7 mm M2 heavy machine gun and the 106 mm M40 recoilless rifle.

The decision to build a prototype vehicle was taken in 1992 and this was subsequently designed and built by the Guatemalan War Matériel Service with the first example being completed in 1994.

By late 2002, it is understood that production had yet to commence but, if placed in production, 10 vehicles could be built over a six month period.

The Danto essentially consists of a US-supplied M54A2 5 ton (US) (6 × 6) truck chassis fitted with an armoured steel body which is 8 mm thick on the front, sides and rear with the floor being 15 mm thick.

The armoured engine compartment is at the front and to the rear of this are the commander and driver who are provided with bulletproof windows 50 mm thick to their front and sides.

The troop compartment extends right to the rear and in each side is a two-part door, the lower part opening downwards to form a step with the upper part opening to the rear. There is also a door in the rear of the hull and a single roof hatch.

Internally, the troop area is divided into three compartments which can be separated by armoured doors to limit damage if the vehicle is hit.

Mounted on top of the hull is a Swiss Oerlikon Contraves GAD-AOA one-man manually operated turret armed with an Oerlikon Contraves Model 204 GK 20 mm cannon. This turret can be traversed through a full 360°, with weapon elevation from -12 to +70°.

It is believed that production vehicles would have a new hull design with the chassis being reduced by 1 m between the front and rear axles while the height of the vehicle would be reduced by about 0.5 m. Production vehicles would also be powered by a Detroit Diesel engine. The reduction in length of the hull would reduce the overall weight of the vehicle.