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AMX-10RC

1981 COLD WAR MODERN

History of the AMX-10RC

The AMX-10RC amphibious armored personnel carrier is designed and built by the French government-owned arms manufacturer GIAT Industries. The French infantry needed a fast armored medium support vehicle that could compete with existing armored vehicles and light to medium tanks and provide mobile reconnaissance and support.

The request of the French army was to replace the obsolete Panhard EBR 8x8 armored vehicle series.

Development of the AMX-10RC began in 1970, and the first prototype appeared in 1971. Production began in 1976 and the first systems were completed in 1978. This resulted in the production of more than 540 examples for the French Army and the Foreign Legion, as well as for foreign customers.

Deliveries to the French military began in 1981. The French military was involved in world conflicts such as Chad during Operation Manta (1983), Cote d'Ivoire in Morocco, the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm (1991), and supported UN operations in Africa Kosovo and the then new AMX-10RC It is easy to deploy to these hotspots.

Also introduced a new improved TK 105 turret. The new turret has an elevation angle of -18 degrees to +20 degrees and is equipped with a Safran Kotec fire control system, which enables the internal fire control system to locate fixed and moving targets in seconds, day or night.

During the day, commanders can get a 360-degree panoramic view from the protected cupola and M504 sight and rangefinder magnified 2 to 10 times. At night, the gunner has a Thales-made DIVT 16 Castor low-light thermal imaging camera with an effective range of up to 4,000m.

Interestingly, the amphibious capability of the AMX-10RC was removed with the introduction of the upgrade program.

In 2004, the French Army currently has more than 300 AMX 10RC prototypes in service. Morocco has purchased 228 of its own vehicles, 120 of which are upgrades, although the original AMX-10RC is known to have been fitted with waterjet propulsion. Qatar purchased 12 systems.

The AMX-10RC as a whole has proven itself in many combat operations and is considered an excellent design of French origin. Such is its success, the system is said to be useful to the French government and army in the near future, although GIAT no longer manufactures the type in any form.

Produced an AMX-10RC pilot trainer variant of the base AMX-10RC fighter model.