VBL/VB2L

The Panhard VBL (Véhicule Blindé Léger) is a French 4x4 light armoured vehicle designed for reconnaissance, escort, and command roles. It is amphibious and air-transportable, offering protection against small arms fire and shell splinters.

Developed by Panhard in the late 1970s, the vehicle was created to meet a French Army requirement for a highly mobile, light armored platform to replace utility jeeps in liaison and anti-tank roles. It officially entered service in 1990, offered in both the standard short-wheelbase VBL and the extended-wheelbase VB2L configurations. The platform saw extensive combat and peacekeeping deployments throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including operations in Bosnia, Somalia, Afghanistan, and various counter-insurgency campaigns across Africa. Today, the VBL remains a cornerstone of French light cavalry and is undergoing a modernization program to the 'VBL Ultima' standard to extend its operational life.