The (VAB; literally meaning "Armoured Forward Vehicle"; but more appropriately translated: "Armoured Vanguard Vehicle") is a French armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed and manufactured by Renault Trucks Defense (now known as Arquus). It entered French service in 1979 and around 5,000 were produced for the French Army as well as for export. It has seen combat in various conflicts in Africa, Asia as well as Europe and has also been exported to more than 15 countries.

A polyvalent military vehicle, the VAB has more than thirty variants and sub-variants. Beyond their common primary role of transporting personnel and equipment in combat zones, some VAB are tailored for mechanized infantry combat, some fulfill the role of anti-tank missile launchers, some of self-propelled mortars, some are optimized for electronic warfare, others act as reconnaissance or artillery observation vehicles, etc.

, it still is the standard APC of the French Army but is gradually being replaced by its successors, the six-wheel VBMR Griffon (introduced in 2019) and the four-wheel VBMR-L Serval (introduced in 2022).

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 (Its propulsion in water is either by its wheels or twin water jets), 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.La bonne surprise du VAB face aux IED : avoir été amphibie..., Jean-Dominique Merchet, Secret Défense, Libération

Companies Panhard and Saviem/Renault answered the requirement, and the Renault prototype was selected in May 1974,VAB Blindé de transport de troupe – Armoured personnel carrier , armyrecognition.com with 4,000 units ordered. The first delivery occurred in 1976, and production continued at a rate of 30 to 40 units a month.

An armoured double-door at the rear allows access to the passenger compartment. Two inward-facing, foldable benches provide seating for 5 soldiers each. The crew enters the front compartment through two lateral hatches, the driver on the left and gunner on the right; two additional hatches in the roof give access to armaments and provide emergency exits. The front windows are bullet-proof and heated. All the windows can be further protected by armoured panels, which can be shut entirely or leaving a small observation slit. The engine is located behind the driver, while the right side of the vehicle is kept free, providing a passageway between the crew and passenger compartments.

With a modest 13-tonne mass, the VAB can easily be airlifted for deployment abroad.

The VAB's large wheels allow it to sustain up to 60% grades and road/rail canting of up to 30%.

From 1998, the French Army's VABs underwent three major overhauls: replacement of the manual gear by an automatic transmission (T1) replacement of the brakes and automatic tire pressurization (T2) armour upgrade (T3)

These overhauled vehicles are known as VAB Valorisé. From 1990, the VAB NG (new generation) with improved armour and new engine was offered. In the 2000s, Renault offered engine upgrades to any VABs in service from MAN diesel engines to Renault MIDS 06 20 45 turbocharged diesel engines by removing the torque converterer oil reservoir bracket, modifying the existing right-hand engine bracket and the installation of a cooling unit.

In 2003, Renault Trucks Défense took over marketing the VAB from GIAT. At Eurosatory 2010, Renault unveiled the heavier VAB MkII, with more internal space and Level 4 protection. The MkII version was also shown in the BRIDEX 2011 convention.

In Eurosatory 2012; the VAB MkIII was presented publicly, being a new vehicle with better protection against IEDs and anti-vehicle mines up to STANAG Level 4 protection. Armored plating against RPG rockets is made in collaboration with Plasan.

It's being marketed only in a 6x6 wheeled configuration with either a Renault MD7 engine developing 340 hp or a Caterpillar C7 developing 370 hp with automatic transmission.

Armour upgrade

The upgrade of the VAB with MEXAS composite armour 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 shape 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, allowing the force of the blast to disperse away from the vehicle. In particular, the hull shape and position of the wheels deflects the shock wave, helping maintain hull integrity.

Turrets The heavy machine gun version of the carries a M2HB 12.7mm machine gun in an open turret; the light version sports the AA52 7.5mm machine gun in a similar arrangement.

The AA-52 is a 7.62mm GPMG mounted on the VAB has a length of 1,080 mm and a barrel length of 600 mm. Weighing 9.970 kg, this machine gun operates through a lever-delayed blowback action mechanism, enabling a maximum rate of fire of 900 rounds per minute. Its effective firing range spans 600 meters, with a maximum firing range of 3,200 meters. The AA-52 is equipped with a belt feed system and features Iron Removable APX (SOM) telescopic sights and an infrared scope for precision targeting. The ammunition utilized includes rifle rounds with a caliber of 7.62, compatible with cartridges such as the 7.5×54mm French and the 7.62×51mm NATO. With a muzzle velocity of 830 m/s, the AA-52 is capable of delivering sustained firepower with a basic load of 900 rounds.

In both cases, the gunner's only protection from incoming fire is an armoured panel on the front and the two halves of the hatch door on the sides, giving little protection against indirect fire, surprise attacks and explosionsAdjudant Laurent Pican (13 BCA) was killed by an explosion on 21 September 2007 — or if the VAB rolls over.Soldier Melam Bouama was killed during the Uzbin valley ambush 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, the Army head of staff repeatedly requested that remotely operated 12.7mm turrets be fitted on these vehicles, as a crash requirement. A program was launched, scheduling turret and battle command upgrades for over 500 VABs, now labeled VAB TOP (tourelle TéléOPérée). In May 2008, Renault Trucks Defense signed an eight-year, 20 million euro contract with Kongsberg Gruppen of Norway, for equipping the VAB with subsidiary Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace's Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS).Weapon Control Systems framework agreement with France – Kongsberg Gruppen press release, 2 May 2008 Deliveries were scheduled from 2009 to 2016.

From early 2009 onwards, about 60 VAB-TOP were deployed in Afghanistan, seeing their 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 partially alleviates concerns raised by the need to reload this 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. 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.

Africa VABs belonging to the Royal Moroccan Army (FAR) have seen heavy combat during the conflict with Polisario rebels of the Western Sahara.

Asia VABs of the Indonesian Army were deployed during the May 1998 riots in Jakarta. Indonesian VABs seen combat during the 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh. The Garuda Contingent for the UNIFIL in Lebanon also used VABs starting in 2007.

Middle East A total of 95 VABs were delivered to the Lebanese Army between 1981 and 1984,Sex & Bassel Abi-Chahine, Modern Conflicts 2 – The Lebanese Civil War, From 1975 to 1991 and Beyond (2021), p. 105. being extensively employed during the Lebanese Civil War, with several vehicles serving under the Shia Amal Movement militia banner after the Army's predominantly Shia 6th Infantry Brigade went over to their coreligionists in February 1984.Mahé, La Guerre Civile Libanaise, un chaos indescriptible (1975–1990), p. 79.Zaloga, Tank battles of the Mid-East Wars (2) (2003), pp. 53; 57–58.Kassis, Véhicules Militaires au Liban/Military Vehicles in Lebanon (2012), p. 21. After the end of the war in the 1990s, additional VABs were delivered to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) for use in the escort and internal security roles.

Ukraine

As of March 2025, at least 30 VAB vehicles were visually confirmed to be destroyed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A further 13 were damaged and abandoned.

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.

The following VAB variants are/were made:

VAB MK 3, 6x6 APC version- A highly improved version of the VAB with better performance in terms of mobility protection in payload VAB VTT (Véhicule Transport de Troupe) – 4x4 APC version, crew of two and ten passengers and standard pintle mount for various compatible machine guns. 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 ELI (élément léger d'intervention) – light recovery vehicle. VAB-VCAC MILAN (VCAC standing for Véhicule de Combat Anti-Char) – 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 84 mm 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. Equipped with hydraulic jib crane for swapping power pack and winches for pulling VABs free of obstacles. 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.