Véhicule de l'avant blindé

Véhicule de l'avant blindé (VAB)
	VAB at a military parade in France
General properties
crew	2 (driver, commander) + 12 infantrymen (version P)
length	6.05 m
width	2.49 m
height	2.06 m
Dimensions	13 tons (combat weight)
	Armor and armament
Armor	Protection against bullets with a caliber of 7.62 mm
Main armament	1 × 7.62mm AA-52 machine gun
Secondary armament	no
agility
drive	Renault MIDS 062045 diesel engine ; 300 HP (224 kW)
suspension	Wheel suspension 4 × 4 or 6 × 6 (export version)
Top speed	92 km / h (2.2 m / s in the water)
Power / weight	23 hp / ton
Range	1000 km

The Véhicule de l'avant blind (VAB) is an armored personnel from French production. The all-wheel drive (4 × 4) armored car is used by the French and other armed forces.

history

The VAB was designed and produced by Euro Mobilité Division ( GIAT in collaboration with Renault Trucks ). In 1976 it was ready for series production and delivery to the army began. Around 5,000 pieces have been produced to date, around 800 of which have been exported since 1984. Most versions of the vehicle can float . It is propelled in the water by two propellers attached to the stern.

Versions

There are different versions, including a six-wheel version (6 × 6) as an export version of the VAB.

VAB P : Troop transport: 12 soldiers can be carried
VAB T-20/13 : equipped with a 20 mm automatic cannon
VAB-VOA (French: V éhicule d ' o bservation d' a rtillerie ): artillery observation vehicle
VAB-RATAC (French: R adar d ' a cquisition des t irs de l' A rtillerie )
VAB-PC : Command vehicle ( P oste de C ommandement )
VAB-SIR (French: S ystème d ' i nformation r égimentaire )
VAB HOT : equipped with HOT guided missiles
VAB mortier : 81 mm-120 mm, with or mortar arms
VAB SAN : medical armor
VAB NBC (French: N ucléaire, radiologique, b actériologique et c himique ): detection vehicle for NBC warfare agents