Renault Trucks Defense to extend the service life of French VBL and VB2Ls armoured vehicles 30807152

Defence & Security News - France
 
Renault Trucks Defense to extend the service life of French VBL and VB2Ls armoured vehicles
The French defense procurement agency (Direction Générale de l’Armement - DGA) has awarded RENAULT TRUCKS Defense / Panhard a design contract to extend the service life of its light armored vehicle (VBL), with consolidated performance, to keep it in service with the French armed forces for the next fifteen years.
     
Renault Trucks Defense to extend the service life of French VBL and VB2Ls armoured vehicles RTD / Panhard upgraded VBL demonstrator. Photo: RTD
     

The VBL, which was designed in the early 1980s and has seen service in all the overseas operations of the French armed forces, is to have its drive unit upgraded.

In focusing on mobility aspects, DGA has awarded RENAULT TRUCKS Defense / Panhard an initial feasibility design contract to provide a solution to upgrade the VBL, including its engine, gearbox, suspension and braking.

An initial demonstrator was delivered to the French Army in December 2014 for assessment and this has led on to the extension design contract which has just been awarded. Three other vehicles are due to be delivered at the end of 2015 for trials in the French armed forces at the start of 2016.

The Panhard production plant in Marolles-en-Hurepoix, as the original manufacturer of the VBL, is responsible for preparing the delivery of pre-production vehicles.

More than 2,300 VBLs have been built, including 1600 for the French army.

The Panhard Véhicule Blindé Léger ("Light armoured vehicle"), also known by its acronym Panhard VBL or simply VBL, is a wheeled 4x4 all-terrain vehicle built by Panhard. The vehicle is offered in various configurations, and was designed to combine the agility of the Peugeot VLTT liaison vehicle with adequate protection against small arms fire, artillery fragments, mines and NBC weapons.

The VBL is fully amphibious and can swim at 5.4 km/h; it is also air transportable by C-130, C-160 and A400M. It was developed during the 1980s and entered operational service in France in 1990. It has a fuel consumption of 16 litres per 100 km.