TSAMTO, June 30. According to an interview published on June 28 by the French newspaper Le Parisien with the Minister of the Armed Forces of France Sebastien Lecorgne, France supplies the Armed Forces of Ukraine with VAB armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheel formula from the presence of the French ground forces.
Last week, a video shot in Slovakia was posted on social networks, where tank trucks carrying the VAB BBM were shown. It was assumed that these cars were heading to Ukraine. The exact number of supplied BBM is not disclosed. Only a "significant amount" is reported.
As the resource notes Armyrecognition.com France has already supplied a large amount of military equipment to Ukraine, including 12 units of 155-mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzers with a 6x6 wheel formula. Recently, the French authorities promised to supply six additional CAESAR installations to the APU.
VAB was developed by the French companies Panhard and Saviem/Renault Group in 4x4 and 6x6 configurations in the period from 1972 to 1973. in modifications with a 4x4 and 6x6 wheel formula. Since 1976, more than 4,000 armored vehicles in several versions have been delivered to France. In the standard configuration of the French Armed Forces, the VAB armament consisted of a semi-tower located on the front right above the commander's seat, equipped with a 12.7 mm M2 MB machine gun with manual control.
The maximum combat weight of a 4x4 vehicle with a wheel formula is 13.8 tons, its own weight is 9.9 tons, the payload mass is 3.9 tons. The vehicle is designed to carry ten fully equipped infantrymen in the landing compartment, the crew is 2 people (driver and commander). The BBM is equipped with a 6-cylinder Renault MIDS 06-20-45 diesel engine with a capacity of 220 hp. The maximum speed on the highway is 92 km/ h, the fuel reserve is up to 1000 km. The vehicle is equipped with protection against small arms fire, collective protection against WMD, air conditioning system.
Currently, the BBM VAB, which are in service with the French army, are being replaced by new Griffon armored vehicles with a 6x6 wheel formula. As of July 1, 2021, about 2,500 VAB units remained in combat.
