Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé MARK 3 (VAB Mk3), a new 6×6 medium wheeled armoured vehicle developed by Renault Trucks Defense, provides armed forces with high-level protection and multi-mission capabilities.
The VAB Mk3 vehicle has a number of variants, which include armoured personnel carrier (APC), infantry combat vehicle (ICV), command post (CP), ambulance, 120mm mortar carrier, and ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance and targeting). The vehicle can be configured for amphibious operations too.
The armoured personnel carrier variant is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun mounted on a manual or remote-controlled weapon system. The infantry combat vehicle variant can be fitted with a medium-calibre weapon station such as CMI Defence Cockerill CPWS 20-25, Nexter ARX-20 and BAE Systems TRT-25/30 tactical remote turret. The mortar carrier version can carry a 120mm mortar system such as TDA 2R2M, as well as 40 rounds of ammunition.
The VAB Mk3 armoured vehicle features modular design and monocoque hull structure. It has low lifecycle costs and is air-transportable internally by the A400M or C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft.
The Mk3 version has been developed in partnership between Renault Trucks Defense and Thales. Thales has supplied the expertise to make the Mk3 fully capable of Network Centric Warfare (NCW) operations in the digital battlefield. The seven-man infantry squad is connected through a wireless LAN up to ranges of 1,000 meters from the vehicle.
It has a length of 7.3m, width of 2.65m, height of 2.5m and a wheel base of 1.4m. Its gross vehicle weight (GVW) is 20t and internal volume is 13m³. The amphibious version has a GVW of 18.2t.
The VAB Mk3 is powered by a Renault six-cylinder MD7 engine, which generates a maximum power of 340hp and a maximum torque of 1,600nm at 1,300rpm. It is coupled to an automatic gearbox that features six forward gears and one reverse gear.
The 1400 R20 tyres fitted with central tyre inflation system provide improved all-terrain mobility. Each wheel has an independent suspension. The optional driveline components include run-flat tyres, directional rear axle and a winch.
