Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé

(Redirected from VAB (armoured personnel carrier))

Image:VAB armoured personnel carrier DSC00846.jpg
VAB
General characteristics
Length 5.98 m
Width 2.49 m
Height 2.06 m
Weight 13 t
Suspension Wheel
Speed 92 km/h road
 km/h off-road
Range 1000 km
Primary armament 1×12.7 mm machine gun
Secondary armament -
Armour  ? mm
Power plant Renault MIDR 062045
300 hp (224 kW)
Crew 2 + 10 troops
Image:French medical VAB dsc06842.jpg
Medical evacuation version
Image:French VAB propeller dsc06844.jpg
detail of propeller for amphibious operation
Image:VAB VOA 012 FR.JPG
Milan anti-tank missile variant
Image:VIB 012 FR.JPG
25 mm Dragar turret variant

The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB ("Armoured Vanguard Vehicle" in French) is an armoured personnel carrier manufactured by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976 and around 5000 were produced. They are amphibious (propelled in the water by two water jets mounted one either side of hull rear), NBC-proof, have excellent off-road capabilities, and can be configured in numerous versions. Modern versions of the VAB have had more than 1000 improvements compared to the initial version.

Contents

Combat history

VABs have been deployed in virtually all theatres where French infantry troops were present, notably Kuwait, Yugoslavia and Africa.

Operators

  • France,
  • Brunei,
  • Central African Republic,
  • Cyprus,
  • Indonesia,
  • Ivory Coast,
  • Kuwait,
  • Lebanon,
  • Mauritius,
  • Morocco,
  • Oman,
  • Qatar
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Italy (NBC configuration)

Variants

Variants may be 4x4 or 6x6 wheels. The French military has 4-wheel versions.

  • armoured personnel carrier
  • anti-tank missile launcher
  • 12.7 mm Dragar turret.
  • 25 mm Dragar turret.

The French Gendarmerie also uses a variant of the VAB called VBRG (Véhicule Blindé de Reconnaissance de la Gendarmerie) for riot control. This version may be equipped with a water cannon and/or a bulldozer blade.

Trivia

External links


Modern French armoured fighting vehicles
Tanks
Leclerc | AMX 30 | ERC-90 Sagaie | AMX 10 RC | VBC-90
Armoured personnel carriers
VAB | Panhard AML | VBL | AMX-10P
Artillery
LRM | AMX 30 AuF1
French armoured fighting vehicles
Modern Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Personnel Carriers
4 x 4

BOV | BTR-40 | Casspir | Mamba | RG-12 | RG-31 Nyala | RG-32 Scout | Saxon | VAB | VBL
6 x 6
AVGP | Boxer MRAV | BTR-152 | EE-11 Urutu | Fuchs | FV 603 Saracen | Ratel | Sisu XA-180 | VAB
8 x 8
ASLAV | Boxer MRAV | BTR-60 | BTR-70 | BTR-80 | BTR-94 | LAV 25 | LAV III | Patria AMV | Stryker
Terrex AV-81

no:VAB

pl:VAB