The Véhicule de l’Avant Blindé (VAB) is a wheeled troop carrier that entered service in France in 1976. Since then over 5000 have been produced in 30 different versions and they have served with the armies of 15 nations.

The VAB was developed jointly by Giat and Renault using a commercially available engine. It was relatively cheap and versatile.

It exists in four and six wheeled versions, is simple, very mobile, amphibious, air mobile and capable of operating in a NBC environment.

Over its service life over 1000 modifications have been made to the original design.

It has been deployed in virtually all theatres where French infantry have been present, most notably in Yugoslavia and Africa, and 376 were used in Operation Desert Storm.

The French Army has selected its replacement but it will remain in service in many countries for many years.

This model represents a VAB serving with Division Daguet in Saudi Arabia, March 1991.

Heller 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in 2009.