The ВЛ10 (VL10) is an eight-axle two-section locomotive for freight service under 3 kV DC. It was the successor of the ВЛ8 and was introduced at the same time with the ВЛ80 for use under 25 kV AC. Compared to its predecessor, it did not only have more power, but also bogies with improved suspension and more comfort in the cab. Basically, its mechanical part was identical to that of the ВЛ80.
Between 1961 and 1977, a total of 1,901 were built in Tbilisi and Novocherkassk. In contrast to the prototypes, the production locomotives also had standard SA3 couplers between the sections, what allowed individual operation of both sections. From 1976, production had switched to the ВЛ10У (VL80U) that had been ballasted to an axle load of 25 tonnes.