By Wording OD
Renault Trucks Defense is exhibiting its latest Vehicule de l'Avante
Blinde (VAB) Mk 3 fitted with the Belgian CMI Defence CSE 90LP
two-person turret armed with a low pressure 90 mm gun, 7.62 mm co-axial
machine gun (MG) and a roof-mounted MG at Eurosatory 2016.
The CSE 90LP is the most powerful weapon system to have been installed on the VAB Mk 3 thus far.
Previous weapon systems installed for firing trials have included the
South African TRT-30 armed with a Russian 30 mm 2A42 dual-feed cannon
and 7.62 mm co-axial MG.
The company has developed an amphibious version of the VAB Mk 3 with
additional buoyancy aids and this is propelled through the water by two
propellers mounted externally on either side at the rear.
The VAB Mk 3 Electer parallel hybrid-drive demonstrator is also being
shown at the exhibition. Built under contract to the DGA, this vehicle
has completed more than 5,000 km of trials over different terrain
conditions in the past two years.
According to Renault Trucks Defense, the Electer has several modes of
operation, which include hybrid mode for reduced fuel consumption;
stealth mode for silent running with the main diesel engine switched
off; booster mode for rapid acceleration when required; and silent watch
mode with the auxiliary power unit charging the vehicle's batteries.
The VAB Mk 3 is powered by a MD7 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel
developing 340 hp coupled to an automatic transmission, which provides a
maximum road speed of 105 km/h.
The vehicle has a typical gross vehicle weight of 20 tonnes and the
baseline armoured personnel carrier version can accommodate a crew of
two and carry 10 dismounts. In the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)
configuration, it has a crew of three and carries seven dismounts.
Standard equipment includes the "Battlenet Inside" electronic vehicle
architecture, a central tyre inflation system, air conditioning and
heating, run-flat tyres, and a 300 A alternator.
Source: Eurosatory 2016/ Jane´s Defense.