VBC-90

The VBC-90 was developed by Renault and Saviem as a specialized reconnaissance and fire support variant of the ''Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé. Nevertheless, from 1981, the French government ordered 28 VBC-90s for a single squadron of the Mobile Gendarmerie, as a replacement for the ageing AMX-13 light tanks. These were delivered to the Gendarmerie between 1981 and 1984. VBCs produced by Renault for the Gendarmerie were designated VBC-90G''. Another 6 were delivered to Oman between 1984 and 1985 along with a larger shipment of VABs for the Royal Omani Guard. By 2016, Oman had retired the VBC-90 from service and replaced it with the much more heavily armed B1 Centauro. In France, the Mobile Gendarmerie relegated its VBC-90Gs to reserve storage in the early 2000s. A simplified VBC-90 variant known as the Vehículos de Apoyo y Exploración (VAPE) was developed for Argentina by Renault. It was trialled alongside a much heavier model of the ERC 90 Sagaie offered by Panhard, but neither of the two were adopted by the Argentine Army. but was canceled in 2016 due to tensions between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. ==Specifications==

It has a steel hull armoured to protect against small arms fire. It has a crew of three, with the driver sitting at the front of the vehicle with three bullet-proof windows provided for the driver. A GIAT TS 90 turret carries the commander and gunner, and carries an armament of a 90 mm cannon with a co-axial 7.62 mm machine gun. 20 rounds of 90 mm ammunition are carried in the turret, with a further 25 rounds in the hull. It is powered by a six-cylinder diesel engine mounted at the rear of the hull, driving a 6x6 drive. The vehicle is not amphibious, unlike the VAB on which it was based. ==Operators==

Former operators • • Potential operators • ==Gallery==

File:VBC-90 img 2376.jpg File:VAPE-1.png File:VAB and VBC-90 in Oman 1981.jpg ==References==