Combat vehicles / Armored personnel carriers / VBCI
VBCI
General Facts
- TYPE
Infantry fighting vehicle - ORIGIN
France - NICKNAMES
Véhicule blindé de combat d'infanterie - DESIGNED
2003 - 2007 - DESIGNER
Giat - PRODUCTION
2008 - present - PRODUCERS
France - Nexter - QUANTITY
510 VCI and 120 VPC on order - UNIT COST
3.5 million for VBCI VCI in 2012
2.8 million for VBCI VPC in 2012 - CHARACTERISTICS
Powerful armament
Good all around protection level
Good on road mobility
Mediocre frontal protection level
Introduction
The VBCI is a modern infantry combat vehicle of French origin. It was developed to supplement and replace both the wheeled VAB and tracked AMX-10P in French service. The name VBCI stands for Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie, which is French for wheeled infantry combat vehicle.
Layout
The VBCI has a conventional layout for an 8x8 armored personnel carrier. The engine, drivetrain and two steerable axles are located at the front. The one man Dragar turret is mounted in the middle. The troop compartment is located at the rear and features a ramp.
Firepower
The VBCI is armed with a 25mm M811 dual feed autocannon with 150 round ready to fire. A coaxial 7.62mm MAG machine gun is fitted. The armament is stabilized in both axis and can be fired on the move. APFSDS round can penetrate up to 85mm armor at a 1 km range. The command post version features a remote weapon system with 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun instead of the one man turret.
Protection
The aluminum and steel armor provides an all around protection against 14.5mm armour piercing heavy machine gun rounds. Add on armour can be fitted to improve armor level. An NBC system and fire suppression systems are fitted. The Galix smoke grenade launcher system improves self-defence.
Mobility
The 8x8 chassis with large wheeles provides good on road and off road mobility. The 550 hp diesel engine provides a maximum speed of 100 km/h on roads. The autonomous range is 750 km. The VBCI is not amphibious.
Users
The VBCI is in use with the French army, which operates over 600 vehicles in the infantry combat vehicle and command post roles. Other nations have shown interest in the VBCI and export orders are expected in the future.
VBCI VCI
VBCI VCI: Baseline infantry fighting vehicle version fitted with DRAGAR turret armed with 25mm M811 autocannon and 7.62mm MAG coaxial machine gun. The name VCI stands for Véhicule de Combat de l'Infanterie, which is French for infantry combat vehicle.
Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | 3 + 9 (commander, driver, gunner, 9 infantry) |
Length | 7.6 m |
Width | 2.98 m |
Height | 3 m |
Ground clearance | ? |
Weight | 25.6 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 8x8 |
Turn radius | 17 m |
Engine | Renaul 6-cylinder diesel, 550 hp |
Power ratio | 21.5 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Automatic |
Speed | 100 km/h |
Fuel | ? |
Range | 750 km |
Wall | 0.7 m |
Trench | 2 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
Fording | 1.2 m unprepared, 1.5 m prepared |
Armor | Steel and aluminum armor, protects against 14.5mm API all around |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | Galix smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | ? |
Armament | 25mm M811 autocannon 7.62mm MAG coaxial machine gun |
Weapon1 | 25mm M811 autocannon in turret 409 rounds, 150 ready to fire 360° traverse, powered non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | 7.62mm MAG coaxial machine gun 200 rounds, all ready to fire traverse and elevation as main armament |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Type | Command post |
---|---|
Crew | 2+ 7 (commander, driver, 7 operators) |
Length | 7.6 m |
Width | 2.98 m |
Height | 2.26 m (hull roof) |
Ground clearance | ? |
Weight | 23.3 t combat load |
Ground pressure | ? |
Wheelbase | Wheeled chassis, 8x8 |
Turn radius | 17 m |
Engine | Renaul 6-cylinder diesel, 550 hp |
Power ratio | 23.6 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Automatic |
Speed | 100 km/h |
Fuel | ? |
Range | 750 km |
Wall | 0.7 m |
Trench | 2 m |
Gradient | 60% gradient, 30% slope |
Fording | 1.2 m unprepared, 1.5 m prepared |
Armor | Steel and aluminum armor, protects against 14.5mm API all around |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | ? |
---|---|
Smoke | Galix smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | ? |
Armament | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun |
Weapon1 | 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun in overhead weapon system 360° traverse, powered non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |