Light armored reconnaissance vehicle VBL (Véhicule Blindé Léger)

The light armored reconnaissance vehicle VBL (Véhicule Blindé Léger) on the 4x4 wheeled chassis was designed and manufactured by Panhard in 1988 France. It is also referred to as M-11. This car is designed for the French rapid reaction force, as well as being exported. VBL entered service with the French army in 1990 year. By December 1995, the French army had already ordered 922 VBL vehicles. This order included prototypes, pre-production samples and test vehicles, as well as two models with an extended wheelbase. To date, more than 2400 of these reconnaissance vehicles have been produced for both the local army and for export. Currently, VBL is in service with 16 countries. VBL has been used in many peacekeeping operations. For the first time, VBL was used in Yugoslavia, where it proved itself very well as a multifunctional highly mobile armored vehicle.

VBL provides protection (STANAG level 1) from small arms weapons 7.62 × 51 NATO, shrapnel, artillery shells and anti-personnel mines. Standard equipment includes a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction and passive night vision devices. As standard, the vehicle is equipped with a 7.62-mm or 12.7-mm machine gun on the roof. A car equipped with an ATGM has a crew of three.

The car is equipped on the roof with a commanding one-piece hatch opening back. Around the hatch is located ring mount for installing 7.62-mm machine gun. Protection is provided by an all-welded steel case with variable thickness from 5 to 11 mm. The engine is located in the front, and the fighting compartment - in the back of the car. On each side there is a door opening forwards with a small bulletproof window. A central tire pressure regulator is standard.

The car provides high mobility on the ground and has full amphibious capabilities after a short preparation (it is necessary to manually connect the drive of the propeller) and develops speed on the water at 5.4 km / h thanks to one propeller located in the stern. It is transportable by helicopters and medium military transport aircraft C-130, C-160 and A400M. Load capacity is 1 ton, including crew and weapons.

Panhard offers more 20 and VBL modifications, equipped with various weapons, but the French army uses only some of them. Examples of car modifications:

VBL MILANmedium-range anti-tank rocket (up to 2000 meters) with one MILAN anti-tank missile launcher with a MIRA thermal sight and six missiles;

VBL EXYX, short-range anti-tank missile carrier (up to 600 meters) with one Eryx ATGM launcher with MIRABEL thermal imaging glasses and four missiles. An additional weapon is the 7.62-mm machine gun (1400 ammunition) on a swivel mount;

VBLVBL TOW, long-range anti-tank missile carrier (up to 3750 m) with one TOW launcher and four missiles in service with Greece. Equipped with one or two VHF transmitters / receivers, internal wired and radio communications. An additional weapon is the 7.62-mm machine gun (2000 ammunition) on a swivel mount;

VBL AT4CS, AT4CS anti-tank rocket launcher designed for very short distances (250 m). Equipped with one or two VHF transmitters / receivers, internal wired and radio communications. Ready-to-use 84-mm AT4CS are capable of penetrating 550-mm armor (armored vehicles without additional protection) or 1.5 m of concrete. An additional weapon is the 7.62-mm machine gun (1400 ammunition) on a swivel mount;

VBL CANON, equipped with a turret with an 20-mm automatic cannon MK 20 202 Rh (firing speed: 1000 shots / min, height: -10 ° to + 45 °, 260 ammunition, 160 charged, sight: ZEISS PERI-Z-16, additional equipment turret: laser range finder, thermal imager). Radio equipment: 1 VHF transmitter / receiver;

VBL TOURELLE FERMEE, equipped with a remote-controlled turret armed with 12.7-mm / 7.62-mm machine guns or 40-mm automatic grenade launcher (600 rounds of ammunition, day / night sight, laser rangefinder). Radio equipment: 1 or 2 VHF transmitter / receiver;

VB2L Poste De COMMANDEMENT, team car. Equipped with ultra high-frequency radio communication (two radio stations PR4G), high-frequency radio communication operating over long distances and an intercom of the crew. His weapon is a 7.62-mm machine gun (1400 ammunition) on a swivel mount. Special equipment: a workstation with a map board, a folding table, extra batteries for providing radio communications and support systems for additional 8 hours and a folding seat for the fourth crew member;

VBL RECOreconnaissance machine. Equipped with one VHF transmitter / receiver (French version), 12.7-mm machine gun on a swivel mount, covered with armor plates on the sides. Additional equipment: FLY-K multi-barreled anti-personnel grenade launcher (PL 127) with a rate of fire at 375 shots / min, initial speed in 244 m / s, effective range in 2200 m, against a point target in 1500 m, radius of guaranteed shrapnel damage in 15 m and penetration ability in 50 mm armor;

ULTRAV M11, a radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle for the US Army.

VBL ALBI-MISTRAL, air defense vehicle with two towers with six anti-aircraft missiles “shot-forgot” MISTRAL. Radio equipment: Two VHF transmitter / receiver PR4G (1 for tactical communications, 1 for data transmission of the firing system). An additional weapon is the 7.62-mm machine gun (1200 cartridges) on the floor swivel mount;

Performance characteristics
Armament basic version: 7.62-mm or 12.7-mm machine gun
Country user: Benin, Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Djibouti, France, Gabon, Greece, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Mexico, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Togo, etc. Georgia uses VBL in Afghanistan.
Developer: Panhard Company

Equipment: Central tire pressure control system, gas sprayers, searchlight, air conditioning
Protection: STANAG 1 level (7.62x51 bullets and shell fragments)
Combat weight: from 3.7 to 4 tons
Power / Weight Ratio: 24 hp / t
Speed: Road:> 100 km / h, on water: 5.4 km / h
Crew: commander, pilot, radio operator
Cruising on the road at a speed of 60 km / h: 600 km and 1000 km with 2-me additional cans in 20 l.
Fuel consumption: 16 l / 100 km
The size of a short VBL (excluding additional equipment and weapons): Length 3.80 m, Width 2.02 m, Height 1.70 m
Maximum Slope: 50%
Side tilt: 30%
Wading depth: 0.90 m
Overcoming vertical obstacle: 0.50 m
Engine: Diesel four-cylinder Peugeot XD3T turbocharged engine, horsepower 95 hp DIN (70 kW), at 2250 revolutions per minute and 105 HP at 4150 revolutions per minute.
Transmission: Automatic three-speed gearbox ZF
Transfer case: two gears
Suspension: independent pneumatic, power steering, permanent four-wheel drive on 4 wheels

Comments

[AK-74-1]

To the PROFESSOR, as always, plus for presenting a sample of imported military equipment The only thing that upset was the lack of a description of the implementation of all-wheel drive (permanent with a center differential or plug-in). The assessment of the road ability of a car and its comparison with domestic analogues depends on this.

[Professor]

Suspension: independent pneumatic, power steering, permanent four-wheel drive on 4 wheels

If you are interested in HOW they did this, then I will look.

[755962]

This device has always been of genuine interest to me. Mobile, universal, compact, and also floating. The entire fleet of armored vehicles of the VBL series has now exceeded the mark of 2350 units. According to unofficial data, in 2011 the FSB security service began a dialogue with Panhard to supply about 500 VBL MK2 vehicles to border units ". Although, apparently, that was how the conversation ended. The machine is interesting. To the professor +

[Korvin]

Yes, at one time he was the best tactical armored vehicle and I’ll notice much better than Hammer.

[borkovn]

He doesn’t know what ZF is, and the professor asks for a petition and time to look for information and then answer. I don’t have a word! Professor, very tolerant of your answer. Tell the guy the truth. I’m plus.

[borkovn]

An analogue does not have a crew of 3 people. What are such domestic?

[Korvin]

For an amateur armored minibus there is an elongated version))) I know little BRDM in which the crew is more than three people))))

[Rustam]

I saw this creation on INTERPOLITECH I sat, so nothing but inspires confidence
After talking with a company representative, I asked and asked a couple of unpleasant questions. I did not receive an answer

Yes, we don’t need this craft - the tiger looked more solid



photo from the personal archive-Interpolitech-2011

[Ataturk]

Something he reminds me of Turkish Cobra.

[Civil]

where did our dear Georgian friends come to?

[borkovn]

well made, but the class is bigger.

[datur]

Ataturk,
Something he reminds me of Turkish Cobra. --- Actually, this cobra resembles it apparently the Turks from the French and licked !!!

[sergey69]

This is the Turks copied from the French. There is also a Czech version very similar. And the main advantage over other armored vehicles, I consider it amphibious

[borkovn]

if you want amphibianism about a new civilian think. young man. Fight.

[Svistoplyaskov]

Until 1967, this company produced cars:

Panhard 24 CT 1963

[borkovn]

Well done seek.

[borisst64]

Our BRDM will be more serious!

[dred]

Quote: professor

If you are interested in HOW they did this, then I will look.

Hello! If it’s not difficult for you, could you comment on the rumor that went through as if our Ministry of Internal Affairs wanted to buy this car.

[Professor]

Such news took place with reference to Kommersant. She picked up the RIA news.
I did not find anything like this in the French and English-language press.
Russian police to buy French armored vehicles

[Professor]

The same and Cornets

[755962]

Where did she get the Cornets?

[dred]

Quote: professor

This news was with reference to Kommersant. She was picked up by RIA Novosti. In the French and English-language press, I did not find anything like it. Russian police to buy French armored vehicles

Thanks, I looked. As I understand it, ours do not want to buy it.

[borkovn]

They will buy, because they cannot design and manufacture. Professor, your word?

[datur]

borkovn, another pseudo-brother appeared on our head - they can both design and produce !!! about the difference from you dummies !!!! main financing !!

[APASUS]

The canister on board pleased !!