In August 2011, the French Procurement Agency (DGA) awarded Renault Trucks Defense a new contract to supply hundreds of protection kits for the French Army’s VAB.

The kits are mainly focused on protection against RPG rockets, mines and improvised explosive devices (IED). These kits will be directly integrated in Afghanistan in the coming months.

Renault Trucks Defense was previously awarded another major contract in November 2010 to upgrade a hundred VABs with add-on armor against mines and IEDs.

This complete solution is integrated on the VAB in Renault Trucks Defense Limoges factory. It is composed of add-on armor, a V-shaped deflector under belly, suspended seats and supports for weapons and equipments to prevent them from hurting soldiers in case of an explosion. Suspensions of the VAB have also been reinforced to sustain the add-on weight.

The two contracts will complement the numerous upgrades already done by RTD on the French Army’s VABs, including: rehabilitation, add-on ballistic armor, remotely operated weapon systems (TOP).

The VAB is the main Armored Personnel Carrier of the French Army with about 4,000 units delivered since 1976. They are used in every operation of the Army worldwide. Renault Trucks Defense is working in close collaboration with the DGA and the Army to upgrade and support the VAB during its whole lifecycle and respond to any urgent operational requirement of the users.

Renault Trucks Defense also markets those upgrade solutions and others (like new engines) for the 1,000 VABs sold to more than 20 countries outside France.