Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé

The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB ("Armoured Vanguard Vehicle" in French) is an armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed by the Euro Mobilité Division of GIAT Industries of France. It entered service in 1976; around 5,000 were produced.

Design
The VAB was designed as a wheeled troop transporter, complementing the tracked AMX-10P. Specifications for the project called for an NBC-proof, amphibious, lightly armoured vehicle to provide infantry with basic protection against shrapnel and light infantry weapons. These features were dictated by its possible usage in the event of an all-out conventional war breaking out against the Warsaw Pact; in particular, the amphibious capabilities were needed to bridge the rivers in Eastern France and in Germany.

Companies Panhard and Saviem/Renault answered the requirement, and the Renault prototype was selected in May 1974, with 4,000 units ordered. The first delivery occurred in 1976, and production continued at a rate of 30 to 40 units a month.

A double armoured door at the rear allows access to the passenger compartment. Two inwards-looking, foldable benches provide space for 5 soldiers each. The crew enters the forwards compartment through two lateral hatches, the driver on the left, and the gunner of the right; two more hatches in the roof give access to armament and provide for emergency exit. The front windows are bullet-proof and heated, and can be further sheltered from incoming fire by armoured panels which can be either entirely shut, or leave a small slit for observation; the windows on the side and rear doors are covered by a similar system.

The engine is located behind the driver, while the right side of the vehicle is kept free, providing a passageway between the crew and passager compartments.

Modern versions of the VAB have had more than 1,000 improvements compared to the initial version. From 1998, the VABs in usage in the French Army underwent three major overhauls: These overhauled vehicles are known as VAB Valorisé.
 * replacement of the manual gear by an automatic transmission (T1)
 * replacement of the brakes and automatic tire pressurisation (T2)
 * armour upgrade (T3)

With a modest 13-tonne mass, the VAB can easily be airlifted for deployment abroad. It is capable of tracking a 4-tonne trailer. The large wheels of the VAB allow it to sustain up to 60% grades, and road/rail canting of up to 30%.

In 2003, Renault Trucks Défense took over marketing the VAB, as part of a commercial agreement with GIAT.

From 1990, the VAB NG (new generation) with improved armour and new engine was offered. At Eurosatory 2010, Renault unveiled, a new evolution, the VAB MkII, with more internal space, level 4 protection and a higher GVW.

Armour upgrade
The armour upgrade of the VAB aimed at increasing from protection against light infantry weapons to protection against heavy machine guns, typically 12.7 mm projectiles. This increased the weight of the vehicles by about two tonnes, thereby losing its amphibious capabilities.

The amphibious design of the hull, the relatively light weight and the armour upgrade seem to give the VAB strong resistance against mines: when exposed to an explosion from below, the VAB tends to be lifted in the air, which allows most of the strength of the explosion to be dispersed away from the vehicle; furthermore, the shape of the hull and the disposition of the wheels deflect the shock wave, helping to maintain hull integrity.

Turrets
The heavy machine gun version of the VAB carries a M2 machine gun in an open turret; the light version sports an AA52 in a similar arrangement. In both cases, the crewman who mans the machine gun is protected from incoming fire only by an armoured panel on the front and by the two halves of the hatch door on the sides, giving him little protection against indirect fire, surprise attacks and explosions, or if the VAB rolls over. As of July 2007, all the personnel killed by mines aboard VABs had occupied the gunner position, though serious injuries were sometimes sustained by crewmen inside the hull.

From 2007, repeated requests were issued by the Army head of staff for remotely-operated 12.7mm turrets to be fitted on these vehicles as a crash requirement. A programme was launched, scheduling turret and battle command upgrades for over 500 VABs, now labeled VAB TOP (tourelle TéléOPérée).

In early May 2008, Renault Trucks Defence signed an eight-year, 20 million euro contract with Kongsberg Gruppen of Norway, for equipping the VAB with subsidiary Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's Protector (RWS) Remote Weapon Station. Delivery are planned to range from 2009 to 2016. About 60 VAB-TOP were deployed in Afghanistan from early 2009 onwards, and saw first combat during the Battle of Alasay. Field experience shows a significant drop in ammunition consumption with the tele-operated turret, whose computer allows the operator to fire efficient single shots, rather than bursts. This somewhat alleviates concerns raised by the need to reload the turret from outside.

Replacement
Replacement of the VAB is scheduled for around 2020. A diesel-electric vehicle stemming from the EBM10-EBM20 programme is due to be selected. The Armoured Multirole Carrier has been cited as a strong contender.

Combat history
VABs have been deployed in virtually all theatres where French infantry troops were present, notably Kuwait, Côte d'Ivoire, Yugoslavia, and Chad. VABs belonging to the Royal Moroccan Army ( FAR ) have seen heavy combat during the conflict with Polisario rebels of the Western Sahara. French troops supporting ISAF in Afghanistan also use the VAB. During the Uzbin valley ambush, a VAB was hit by a rocket propelled grenade, with no injuries. One soldier manning the rooftop machine gun of a VAB was later killed when the road collapsed under his vehicle and it rolled over. In March 2009, a VAB driver was killed by a rocket attack during the battle of Alasay.

Variants


Variants may be 4×4 or 6×6 wheels, the 6×6 yielding a 10% increase in cost. The French military only uses 4-wheel versions, while export versions mainly are 6×6s.


 * VAB VTT (Véhicule Transport de Troupe) - 4x4 APC version, crew of two and ten passengers.
 * VAB TOP (tourelle TéléOPérée) - VTT 4x4 fitted with a Kongsberg Protector (RWS) with 12.7mm machine gun and ceramic add-on armour.
 * VAB AZURE (Action en Zone URbaine) - Urban warfare vehicle equipped with a dozer blade and with panoramic periscopes to observe and monitor.
 * VAB MILAN - French army variant of the VTT, fitted with a pintle mount for the MILAN system at the rear hull roof.
 * VAB AT4CS - French army variant of the VTT, used by anti-tank teams armed with the AT4CS 84mm portable rocket launcher.
 * VAB ERYX - French army variant of the VTT, used by anti-tank teams armed with the ERYX system.
 * VAB RATAC - Artillery target acquisition vehicle, carries a DR-PC 1a RATAC doppler radar with a range of 20 km.
 * VAB RASIT - Reconnaissance vehicle, carries the DR-PT 2a RASIT ground surveillance radar.
 * VAB PC (Poste de Commandement) - Command vehicle with a crew of 6 and equipped with map tables and additional signals equipment.
 * VAB SIR (Système d'Information Régimentaire) - Digital regimental C4ISTAR information system.
 * VAB Bromure - Electronic warfare vehicle.
 * VAB Echelon - Maintenance and repair vehicle.
 * VAB Génie - Engineering vehicle that can be fitted with a light obstacle clearing blade or can be used to tow a trailer with mine-clearing charges.
 * VAB SAN (sanitaire) - Armoured ambulance with room for 5 stretchers or 10 sitting passengers.
 * VAB Reco - NBC reconnaissance vehicle.
 * VAB ATLAS (Automatisation des Tirs et Liaisons Sol-sol pour l'artillerie) - Artillery fire command and control vehicle, successor of the VAB ATILA.
 * VAB SGEA (Système de Guerre Electronique de l'Avant) - Electronic warfare variant.
 * VAB Rapsodie (Radar d'Acquisition Polyvalent pour la Surveillance et l'Observation Destiné à l'Interarmes) - Reconnaissance vehicle with radar.
 * VBR (Véhicule Blindé de Reconnaissance) - Similar to VIB but used by Génie de l’Air and fitted with a Capre turret with 20mm F2 gun.
 * VCAC "Mephisto" (Véhicule de Combat Anti-Char) - Anti-tank vehicle, carries the Euromissile Mephisto system with four ready-to-fire HOT anti-tank missiles and eight more in reserve.
 * VCI T.20/13 (Véhicule de Combat de l’Infanterie) - VAB equipped with a turret mounted 20 mm gun recovered from old AMX-13 VCIs and refurbished and intended for fire support and for counter sniping.
 * VIB (Véhicule d’Intervention sur Base) - IFV version fitted with the Toucan system, a tele-operated turret fitted with a 20 mm cannon and a AA52 7.62 mm machine-gun. Used by the French Air Force for airfield defence.
 * VIT (Véhicule d’Implantation Topographique) - Vehicle for topographic teams of field artillery units.
 * VOA (Véhicule d'Observation d'Artillerie) - Artillery observation vehicle, fitted with a turret with day/night observation devices, laser range finder etc. This version is normally found in units equipped with the TR F1 towed 155mm howitzer. The VAB OBS is an improved version.
 * VTM 120 (Véhicule Tracteur de Mortier) - Mortar towing vehicle, can carry 70 bombs for the Thomson-Brandt MO-120 mortar.


 * VBC-90: Armoured car variant in service with the Mobile Gendarmerie.

Versions reserved for export:
 * VAB 4x4 VCI T.20 (Véhicule de Combat de l’Infanterie) - Export version of the VCI T.20/13, fitted with a one-man T.20 turret. In service with Cyprus.
 * VAB 6x6 ECH (ECHelon) - Maintenance vehicle (with crane).
 * VAB 6x6 VCI Toucan (Véhicule de Combat de l’Infanterie) - Similar to the VCI T.20/13 but based on the VAB 6x6.
 * VAB 6x6 VPM 81 (Véhicule Porte-Mortier) - Mortar carrier with an 81mm mortar firing through a roof opening. In service with Oman.
 * VAB 6x6 VDAA TA20 (Véhicule de Défense AntiAérienne) - Low-altitude air-defence vehicle, armed with a double 20mm gun in a TA 20 turret. In service with Oman, Morocco and the Central African Republic.
 * VCAC 6x6 UTM800 - Anti-tank vehicle, carries the Euromissile UTM800 turret, with four ready-to-launch HOT missiles, and 16 more in reserve. In service with Qatar and Cyprus.
 * VMO (Véhicule de Maintien de l'Ordre) - Police version for crowd control, fitted with a light dozer blade and optionally a TOI turret. In service with Oman, Morocco and Abu Dhabi.

The French Gendarmerie also uses a variant of the VAB, which replaced the VXB, 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.

Operators

 * French Army: 3,900 VAB in 35 different versions
 * French Air Force (VIB, véhicule blindé d'intervention, or véhicule d'intervention sur base)
 * Georgian HQ units who are part of the ISAF are using the VAB and VBL in the Kabul area.
 * 🇮🇩: Army Corps / TNI-AD
 * 🇱🇧: Lebanese Armed Forces, Internal Security Forces (POLICE), Amal Movement (1984–1990)
 * 🇲🇦 400 vehicles
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)
 * 🇮🇩: Army Corps / TNI-AD
 * 🇱🇧: Lebanese Armed Forces, Internal Security Forces (POLICE), Amal Movement (1984–1990)
 * 🇲🇦 400 vehicles
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)
 * 🇲🇦 400 vehicles
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)
 * 🇮🇹: Italian Army (NBC configuration)

Comparable vehicles

 * 🇦🇷 Argentina: VAE
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Al-Fahd
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia: Pindad Panser
 * 🇨🇳 China: WZ551
 * 🇹🇷: FNSS Pars
 * Yugoslavia: BOV M86