New VAB Ultima of French Army was tested in April 2011 to be deployed in Afghanistan 0704122.

The French army will deploy to Afghanistan a new version of its wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier VAB designed and manufactured by Renault Trucks Defense, and the help of the technical offices of the French armed forces. The new VAB Ultima was upgraded in terms of protection, firepower and the needs of future individual soldiers equipment FELIN.

To increase the protection of the old standard version of the VAB Renaul Trucks Defense, the VAB Ultima has been modified and fitted with a new armour kit which includes a reinforced chassis, anti-blast seats that are not fixed to the floor, and ballistic armour plates add to each side of the vehicle.

With this new armor kit, weight of VAB increased from 13,000 to 18,000 kg, by slightly reducing its off-road capabilities.

End of March 2012, the new VAB Ultima was tested in real combat conditions at the French armed forces training area of Canjuers. Soldiers of infantry units 16e BC (16e bataillon de chasseurs) have conducted several exercises with the individual future soldier's equipment Felin.

The military exercise "ULTIMEX" was held from Wednesday 28 to Thursday 29 April 2012 with technical and operational assessments conducted by Renault Trucks Defense and the French army procurement agency (DGA).