Berliet VXB-170


The Berliet VXB-170 is a four-wheel armoured vehicle used primarily as an Internal security vehicle. Developed and initially produced by Berliet until Berliet was merged with Saviem to form Renault Trucks, it lost to the Saviem VAB the competition to equip the French Army, even though it was cheaper than its competitor. Production stopped after less than 200 vehicles had been produced.
Its main user, the French National Gendarmerie, calls it Véhicule blindé à roues de la Gendarmerie or VBRG.

Design history

Designed in the late 1960s under a project maximizing the use of heavy truck components of the Berliet brand in combat vehicles, the VXB 170 entered production at the Berliet Bourg-en-Bresse plant.
It was selected in 1972 by the French Gendarmerie but it lost out to the Saviem VAB the competition for equipment of the French Army and, following the merger of Berliet and Saviem under the Renault brand in 1974, became redundant in the brand product offering so production was stopped soon after the Gendarmerie order was complete

Versions

There were originally three versions :
The VXB was available with hydrojets but this option was never exercised.

Operators

Current operators