Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé

Encyclopedia : V : VH : VHI : Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé

VAB General characteristics
Length	m
Width	2.49 m
Height	2.06 m
Weight	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	300 horsepower>hp (224 kW)
Crew	2 + 10 troops

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.

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,
• Mexico,
• Morocco,
• Oman,
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• Italy (NBC configuration)

Variants

HOT anti-tank missile variant

25 mm Dragar turret variant

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

• armoured personnel carrier
• anti-tank missile launcher (HOT missiles)
• 12.7 mm Dragar turret.
• 25 mm Dragar turret.

detail of propeller for amphibious operation

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.

Medical evacuation version

Image:French_medical_VAB_dsc06842.jpg|Medical evacuation version

Image:French medical VAB dsc06846.jpg|Inside view of the medical evacuation version

Trivia

• Two VABs were featured in the James Bond movie The Living Daylights.
• The VAB 6x6, in UN colours featured in the movie Black Hawk Down.
• In Spriggan, the ARCAM Defense Unit has a unit of VABs stationed at their Turkish research center in Mount Ararat.
• Standard APC of the Baltic army in .

External links

• [Description at Army-Technology.com]
• [VAB Description at army-guide.com]
• [.chars-francais.net]

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