Why This 'Cheap' French Army Vehicle Armed 40 Nations While Britain's Own APC Was Deemed Unsafe

Few armoured vehicles in history have fought on as many continents, in as many wars, and under as many flags as the VAB. France's four-by-four armoured personnel carrier entered service in 1976, built by Saviem, a subsidiary of Renault, using truck engines, truck gearboxes, and welded steel plate. Over 5,000 have been built across nearly five decades of continuous production, making it the most produced Western APC of the Cold War era. From the deserts of Chad during Operation Manta to the streets of Sarajevo under UN fire, from the Iraqi desert with Division Daguet to the mountains of Afghanistan where it survived RPG strikes and kept crews alive, the VAB has seen more sustained combat than almost any wheeled military vehicle in NATO history. Today it fights in Ukraine, donated in the hundreds to frontline brigades. This documentary covers the VAB's full story. Development, technical specifications, combat record across four continents, export history to over 40 nations, and the VBMR Griffon replacement programme under France's SCORPION modernisation plan. Subscribe to this channel for weekly cinematic documentaries on the military vehicles, weapons, and engineering that shaped modern warfare. #militaryhistory #armoredvehicles #frenchmilitary #coldwar #NATO #militarydocumentary #VAB #armoredpersonnelcarrier #warhistory #frencharmy #militaryvehicles #afghanistan #peacekeeping #ukraine