VAB

Armored personnel carrier

The VAB armored personnel carriers are employed for just about every support function

Entered service	1976
Crew	2 men
Personnel	10 men
*Dimensions and weight*
Weight	13 t
Length	5.98 m
Width	2.49 m
Height	2.06 m
*Armament*
Main gun	-
Machine guns	7.62-mm or 12.7-mm x
*Mobility*
Engine	Renault MIDS 60-20-45 diesel
Engine power	220 hp
Maximum road speed	92 km/h
Amphibious speed on water	7 km/h
Range	1 000 km
Air transportability	C-130 Hercules
Maneuverability
Slope	60%
Vertical step	0.5 m - 0.6m
Trench	1 m
Fording	Amphibious

The VAB armored personnel carrier was developed to meet a French Army requirement. A 4 x 4 configuration was selected with production starting in 1976. After being rejected by the French Army, the 6 x 6 version was redeveloped as an infantry fighting vehicle and offered for export customers as the VAB VCI. Both versions have many components in common. Since then the VAB series has become one of the most diverse of al current French combat vehicles, having been produced with many variations. By mid-1994 over 5 000 had been produced, 4 300 of them for the French armed forces with the rest going to at least fifteen customer nations, with other undisclosed orders having been placed at one time or another. It's production still continues.

The base model is the 4 x 4 VAB VTT armored personnel carrier which carries up to 10 troops in the relatively spacious armored hull. Crew and personnel are protected from the 7.62-mm bullets and anti-personnel mines. Furthermore vehicle can carry up to 2 000 kg load in place of the troops.

Most VABs carry at least a 7.62-mm machine gun although 12.7-mm MGs and 20-mm cannon, with or without the ballistic protection provided by various types of turret, are alternatives. The VAB is often allocated to French Army units as an anti-tank vehicle armed with either MILAN or Mephisto anti-tank guided weapons. These vehicles have roof-mounted launcher turrets and carry reload missiles inside the troop compartment.

On water vehicle is propelled by it's wheels or by waterjets mounted at the rear of the hull. Before entering water a trim vane is erected at the front. VAB is also completed with a centralized tyre pressure system. In general this vehicle is characterized by it's simplicity, great mobility and good cross-country performance. Other VABs are employed by the French Army for just about every support vehicle function that can be devised. The list includes:

   - VAB PC command vehicle;
   - VAB Sanitaire ambulance;
   - VAB Echelon repair vehicle;
   - VCAC HOT anti-tank vehicle with Mephisto system;
   - VCAC HOT anti-tank vehicle with UTM 800 turret;
   - VCAC MILAN anti-tank guided missile carrier;
   - VPM-81 self-propelled 81-mm mortar;
   - VTM-120 mortar towing vehicle with 120-mm mortar;
   - NBC reconnaissance vehicle;
   - recovery vehicle;
   - communications vehicle;
   - electronic warfare vehicle;
   - surveillance radar platform;
   - air defense platform with gun armament;
   - air defense platform carrying Mistral missiles;
   - VBC-90 armored car;
   - VMO internal security vehicle.

Some other variants exist, most of them having been produced for export customers.

The latest model is the improved VAB, also called a New Generation model, featuring numerous design updates and enhancements which can be retrofitted to existing models and it is expected that all future production vehicles will be to this standard.

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