French Army to be supplied with 90 VBL Ultima armored vehicles this year: report
The vehicle is an upgraded version of the French VBL wheeled amphibious vehicle designed for reconnaissance and infiltration missions
French Army VBL vehicles. Photo: Armée de Terre
The Defence Blog website reports that the French Army is expected to receive 90 VBL Ultima 4×4 light armored tactical reconnaissance vehicles in 2021. The vehicle's manufacturer, France's Arquus, will gradually modernize 733 VBLs to the new VBL Ultima standard, according to the website.
The VBL Ultima is an upgraded version of the French Vehicule Blinde Leger (VBL) wheeled amphibious armored vehicle that was designed for reconnaissance and infiltration missions. The advanced vehicles are being upgraded under a 2017 contract from France’s defense procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l’Armament (DGA).
The body of the VBL Ultima is made of between 5 and 11 mm of very high-density steel, and the vehicle's armored windows have the same level of protection. The VBL Ultima is also equipped with a new 130 hp PSA DW10F engine (previously 95hp), a W5A580 automatic gearbox, transmission, braking and cooling system. The vehicle weighs between 4.5 and 5.2 tons, and has a load capacity of 1.3 tons, the report said.
The vehicle is an upgraded version of the French VBL wheeled amphibious vehicle designed for reconnaissance and infiltration missions
French Army VBL vehicles. Photo: Armée de Terre
The Defence Blog website reports that the French Army is expected to receive 90 VBL Ultima 4×4 light armored tactical reconnaissance vehicles in 2021. The vehicle's manufacturer, France's Arquus, will gradually modernize 733 VBLs to the new VBL Ultima standard, according to the website.
The VBL Ultima is an upgraded version of the French Vehicule Blinde Leger (VBL) wheeled amphibious armored vehicle that was designed for reconnaissance and infiltration missions. The advanced vehicles are being upgraded under a 2017 contract from France’s defense procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l’Armament (DGA).
The body of the VBL Ultima is made of between 5 and 11 mm of very high-density steel, and the vehicle's armored windows have the same level of protection. The VBL Ultima is also equipped with a new 130 hp PSA DW10F engine (previously 95hp), a W5A580 automatic gearbox, transmission, braking and cooling system. The vehicle weighs between 4.5 and 5.2 tons, and has a load capacity of 1.3 tons, the report said.
