User blog comment:Komodo Saurian/AS Val in BF3/@comment-3177390-20111001231248/@comment-1403643-20111002005809

@Smokey: There is no VSS in BF3.

@Smish: AS Val kills grant you PDW ribbons (Added a screenshot to the blog post). Assault class uses the Assault rifles, Engineers use carbines, Recons use sniper and battle rifles and Support uses light machinge guns. PDWs are classless.

So no, Val is not a substiture in any way since it's next to useless. Also it's Val, not VAL. The name is not an abbreviation, it roughly translats as Special Assault Rifle "Shaft" (Or Killer Wave, both translations are acceptable (And there more)).