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Video Shows Ukraine Spotted With First French AMX-10RC Tank Destroyer

Officially designated as “light tanks” (Char) by the French military, despite being a wheeled not tracked vehicle, the AMX-10 RC had been employed with French cavalry units since the early 1980s. In fact, the “RC” stands for “Rouses-canon” – French for “Wheeled Gun.”

Israeli Armor of the Six Day War: pictured here the AMX 13. Image: Creative Commons.

Multiple videos were shared on social media on Tuesday that showed Ukrainian military personnel inspecting a French AMX-10RC armored fighting vehicle – one of the platforms that Paris pledged to Kyiv at the start of the year.

Three video clips were shared by @naalsio26, an independent military analyst who tracks Russian units and military equipment – and who has been documenting losses in the fighting for the open-source websites Oryx and WarSpotting.

It is not entirely clear when or where the videos were filmed, but it is the first time that the French-made wheeled tank destroyer was seen with Ukrainian soldiers. The French Defense Ministry announced in January that it will soon hold talks with its counterparts in Kyiv to arrange the delivery of a number of the AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles. It actually marked the first time the Western-made wheeled tank destroyer would be supplied to Ukraine.

The French AMX-10RC in the Crosshairs

Officially designated as “light tanks” (Char) by the French military, despite being a wheeled not tracked vehicle, the AMX-10 RC had been employed with French cavalry units since the early 1980s. In fact, the “RC” stands for “Rouses-canon” – French for “Wheeled Gun.”

Development of the AMX-10 RC began in the early 1970s, and it first entered service in 1981. A total of 457 were produced, and around 240 were reported to be in service with the French Army at the beginning of the year – while others were sold to Morocco and Qatar.

A crew of four operates the tank destroyer, with three of the crew members – including the commander, gunner, and loader – housed in the turret, while the driver sits in the front of the hull. Instead of tracks, the AMX-10 RC is equipped with six wheels that are powered by a Baudouin 6F11 SRX supercharged diesel engine providing the vehicle with a top speed of 85 km/h (53 mph) on the road and 40 km/h (25 mph) off road. It has a range of 800 km (500 miles) on road.

The vehicles are armed with a 105mm F2 BK MECA L/47 medium-pressure main gun, and 38 rounds of ordnance are stored within the hull. The secondary armament consists of a 7.62mm NF1 coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm (.50 caliber) M2HB anti-aircraft machine gun, along with four GALIX smoke dischargers.

Combat Operations

Designed to be deployed in a reconnaissance role in contested environments and for fire support, the AMX-10 RC first saw service in the 1980s Western Sahara War. It was later employed in the 1991 Gulf War, and more recently in the War in Afghanistan, as well as in recent French military operations in Mali.

Ukraine has reportedly received 14 of a promised 40 that could soon see service in the frontlines. Though not a true tank, the wheeled vehicle could be well-suited to the urban combat environments of Bakhmut and other contested cities and towns. It will be able to scout ahead for Kyiv’s main battle tanks (MBTs), and quickly get out of a fight if necessary.

It is a platform that could be a true game changer for Ukraine – and could be crucial for Kyiv’s next offensive operations.

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Author Experience and Expertise:

A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

Written By

Expert Biography: A Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

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