The French-produced VAB is a versatile Armored Personnel Carrier and scout car. The chassis is used in a series of capable variants for ease-of-cost, logistics, and production. The chassis was developed in a 4x4 and 6x6-wheeled configuration, is fully amphibious, and can mount variable weaponry including machine guns and missile systems to counter most any light-to-medium battlefield threat.
The air defense variant is equipped with 4 x Mistral Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs). Another variant showcases the HOT Anti-Tank, Guided-Missile (ATGM) weapon. Still another form manages twin 20mm automatic cannons to counter the threat posed by low-flying aircraft as well as ground-based light-armored vehicles (developed for Oman). Full NBC protection and night vision is available for the crew which is made up of two to three personnel. Passenger-equipped models can carry up to ten combat-ready infantrymen.
Drive power to the vehicle is from the in-house Renault MIDS 06-20-45 6-cylinder, inline, water-cooled, turbocharged diesel-fueled engine of 220 horsepower. This drives a 4x4 wheeled arrangement which and allows the vehicle to reach speeds of over 90 kmh out to a range of 1,000 kilometers. Weight is 13,000 kg and dimensions include an overall length of 5.98 meters with a width of 2.49 meters and a height of 2.06 meters.
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May 2017 - Lebanon has taken delivery of its first HOT-missile-equipped VAB "Mephisto" armored vehicles. These examples are ex-French Army.
November 2018 - Lebanon has taken delivery of its second batch of Mephisto vehicles. The delivery includes ten additional vehicles along with 96 total HOT ATGMs.
Specifications
Renault Trucks Defense - France Manufacturer(s)
Brunei; Central African Republic; Cyprus; France; Indonesia; Italy; Ivory Coast; Kuwait; Lebanon; Mauritius; Mexico; Morocco; Oman; Qatar; United Arab Emirates; Operators
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