The VAB is a French armored personnel carrier family selected in the 1970s for protected troop movement, with the VAB-VTT/Véhicule Transport de Troupe as the baseline infantry transport configuration. Thousands were produced across command, ambulance, mortar, anti-tank, and remote-weapon variants; Arquus also markets VAB MK3 as a newer 6x6 medium armored-vehicle branch, while Ukraine-conflict sourcing for this record documents transferred legacy VAB armored personnel carriers and separate Mk3 delivery/testing evidence.
France transferred operational VAB armored personnel carriers to Ukraine after the 2022 full-scale invasion, including a French ministry list that counted 284 armed and medical VABs by May 2024. Ukrainian forces are documented using legacy VABs for front-line troop movement; SIPRI separately records an estimated 2025 delivery of six VAB Mk-3 APCs to Ukraine, while open reporting is clearer on Mk-3 transfer/testing than sustained combat employment.
Role detailsVAB-VTT is the troop-transport baseline within the VAB family, while VAB MK3 is covered here as a source-backed 6x6 branch rather than as a separate public weapon page. The Ukraine conflict row distinguishes legacy VAB front-line use and French delivery lists from later Mk-3 transfer/testing evidence.
Véhicule Transport de Troupe denotes the infantry-section carrier configuration. Specialist references describe a two-person crew, up to ten passengers, rear troop compartment access, amphibious mobility, and light machine-gun armament.
Official Arquus material describes VAB MK3 as a 6x6 medium armored-vehicle family with APC, IFV, and fire-support configurations, separate from the original 4x4 VAB carrier layout.
Arquus and Army Technology both identify VAB Mk3 as a newer 6x6 vehicle.
Arquus lists 20 t gross vehicle weight and a maximum crew/passenger figure of 2 + 8 for Mk3; Army Technology describes APC and ICV layouts with different troop capacities.
Sources describe STANAG 4569 ballistic protection, mine/IED protection options, Battlenet integration, and remote-weapon or turret fits from APC self-defense weapons to heavier IFV/fire-support configurations.
The VAB family includes the original 4x4 troop carrier and many mission variants; later Arquus material presents VAB MK3 as a distinct 6x6 medium armored-vehicle family with its own APC, IFV, and fire-support configurations.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| VAB VTT | Armored personnel carrier | Baseline Véhicule Transport de Troupe infantry-section carrier; specialist sources describe the 4x4 French-service VTT as a two-crew vehicle carrying up to ten soldiers, commonly with a manually operated machine-gun mount. Sources: Army Recognition VAB 4x4, WeaponSystems.net VAB VTT |
| VAB SAN | Armored ambulance | Medical evacuation variant in the VAB mission family. Sources: Army Recognition VAB 4x4 |
| VAB Mephisto | HOT anti-tank missile carrier | Anti-tank variant fitted with the Mephisto launcher for HOT missiles. Sources: Army Recognition VAB 4x4 |
| VAB TOP | Remote weapon station upgrade | French upgraded configuration with a Kongsberg Protector remote weapon station and add-on armor. Sources: Army Recognition VAB 4x4 |
| VAB MK3 | 6x6 medium armored-vehicle family | Arquus describes VAB MK3 as a 20-ton 6x6 family with STANAG 4569 protection, APC/IFV mission fits, remote-weapon or turret armament options, and payload capacity beyond the original 4x4 carrier. Sources: Arquus VAB MK3, Army Technology VAB Mk3 |
Arquus states that a 1973 test campaign led to selection of the Saviem 4x4 armored personnel carrier design.
Sources: Arquus VAB history
AP reporting on French aid to Ukraine identifies VAB armored personnel carriers as old but operational equipment that entered French military service in 1979.
Sources: AP France Ukraine armored vehicles
Arquus says 5,000 VABs had been delivered to 14 countries by 1996.
Sources: Arquus VAB history
Renault Trucks Defense unveiled VAB Mk3 as a new 6x6 medium wheeled armored vehicle at Eurosatory 2012.
Sources: Army Technology VAB Mk3
Arquus presented a VAB Mk3 fitted with its Advanced Survivability System, Battlenet communications, and added ballistic and mine-protection features at IDEX 2019.
Sources: Arquus VAB MK3 Advanced Survivability System
Arquus presented a systems-ready VAB Mk3 configuration at Eurosatory 2022 with Hornet Stealth Protection, 360-degree cameras, tethered-drone integration, and Battlenet sensor management.
Sources: Arquus VAB MK3 systems-ready press release
French defense minister Sebastien Lecornu said France would deliver VAB armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in significant quantities.
Sources: Army Recognition France delivers VAB to Ukraine
AP reported Lecornu's statement that old but operational VABs were going directly to Ukraine in large quantities during 2024 and early 2025.
Sources: AP France Ukraine armored vehicles
A French Ministry of Armed Forces equipment list counted 284 armed and medical VABs delivered to Ukraine since February 24, 2022.
Sources: French MOD Ukraine equipment list May 2024
SIPRI's arms-transfer database records an estimated French delivery of six VAB Mk-3 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine in 2025.
Sources: SIPRI Arms Transfers Database
