VAB

The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé, or VAB, was developed by Renault and Saviem for the French Army as a wheeled armored personnel carrier. It entered service in the 1970s and became one of the most numerous French armored vehicles. The VAB was designed to transport infantry under armor, provide tactical mobility, and serve as a basis for command, ambulance, mortar, anti-tank, and other specialized variants. Its simple wheeled layout made it easier to deploy and maintain than heavier tracked vehicles.

The VAB's strength is versatility. The basic armored personnel carrier protects soldiers against small arms and fragments while moving them across roads and rough ground. Because the chassis was adaptable, France and export users developed many mission variants. The vehicle is not a modern infantry fighting vehicle with heavy armor and a large cannon; it is a practical protected mobility platform. That distinction explains why it remained useful for decades in overseas operations, peacekeeping, and lower-intensity conflicts.

The VAB's long service life reflects how central protected mobility became to French ground operations. It deployed in many overseas missions and was exported to numerous countries. Combat experience also revealed limitations in mine and improvised explosive device protection, leading to upgrades and eventually replacement under France's Scorpion modernization program. Even as Griffon vehicles take over, VAB remains an important reference point for French wheeled armor and expeditionary operations.