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AMX-10 RC
AMX-10-RC
AMX-10 RC
Type Armoured car
Place of origin Flag of France France
Service history
In service 1981 – present
Wars
  • Western Sahara War
  • Gulf war
  • War in Afghanistan
  • Operation Serval
  • Specifications
    Mass 15 tonnes (17 short tons; 15 long tons)
    Length 6.24 m (20 ft 6 in)
    Width 2.78 m (9 ft 1 in)
    Height 2.56 m (8 ft 5 in)
    Crew 4

    Armor Frontal armour resistant against 23 mm API from 300 m
    Main
    armament
    105 mm BK MECA (F2) L/48 (38 rounds) (Vo 800 m/s)
    Secondary
    armament
    AA 7,62 NF1 co-axial machine gun (4,000 cartridges), 4 smoke generators. Optional 12.7-mm M2HB AA MG
    Engine Baudouin Diesel Model 6F11 SRX
    280 hp (208.8 kW)
    Suspension hydropneumatic wheel
    Operational
    range
    800–1,000 km (500–620 mi)
    Maximum speed 85 km/h (53 mph)
    25–30 km/h (16–19 mph) off road

    The AMX-10RC is a wheeled reconnaissance vehicle and tank destroyer built by GIAT. Over 300 are in service in the French Army. 108 additional vehicles were sold to Morocco and 12 to Qatar.

    The AMX-10RC is a wheeled and heavily armed version of the AMX-10P combat vehicle. The AMX-10RC should not be confused with the AMX-10P; they share automotive components but otherwise have completely different battlefield roles. The AMX-10RC is amphibious and has very good mobility. It is usually used for reconnaissance missions in dangerous environments or for fire support.

    Design and characteristics[]

    Initial work on the AMX-10RC began in 1970; production began in 1976, and the first production vehicle was delivered in 1981 to the 2nd Regiment de Hussards in Sourdun. The vehicle features a powerful GIAT 105mm gun mounted in a welded aluminium turret. The turret also serves to house three crew members, while the driver sits in the front of the hull; the COTAC fire control system is provided for gun aiming. All six wheels are driven, and the AMX-10RC uses skid steering to turn the hull.

    French AMX-10RC in the desert

    French AMX-10RC during the Operation Desert Shield phase of the Gulf War

    The 105mm rifled gun fires four types of ammunition: APFSDS, HE, HEAT and smoke. The APFSDS uses the penetrator from the GIAT 90mm APFSDS round, and is capable of penetrating a NATO triple heavy tank target at a range of 2,000 metres.

    The AMX-10RC has been the recipient of numerous upgrades over its lifetime. Most notably, newer systems include battlefield-management system terminals. For its part in the 1991 Gulf War, the AMX-10RC was provided with extra add-on armour and anti-tank missile decoy systems. One improvement considered was the installation of a NATO 105mm gun, as the GIAT model was not compatible with NATO munitions, but this was ultimately not done. Thermal imaging systems have also been installed, using units taken from decommissioned AMX-30B2 MBTs. A central tyre-inflation system is available for added traction over soft terrain. The AMX-10RC is equipped with an NBC (Nuclear/Biological/Chemical) protection system and may conduct reconnaissance in a radioactive environment.

    The AMX-10RC is no longer in production by GIAT.

    AMX-10RCR Modernisation[]

    In 2010, Nexter completed the modernisation of 256 AMX-10RC vehicle configuration to RCR (Rénové), a programme that consisted of integrating various systems and additional armour, active self-protection by Sagem, LIRE (Leurre Infrarouge) / Eirel, the combat management system SIT (Système d'Information Terminal) V1, ASP device Galix smoke grenades, changes in the NBC protection and improvements in the suspension and the speed gearboxes and tactical communications completed with Thales Communications & Security PR4G VS4. The integration was done by DCMAT (Direction Centrale du Matériel de l'Armée de Terre).[1]

    User countries[]

    • Flag of France France - 256
    • Flag of Morocco Morocco - 108
    • Flag of Qatar Qatar - 12

    Missions[]

    • Armoured reconnaissance
    • Armoured support
    • Flanking security

    References[]

    External links[]


    All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
    The original article can be found at AMX 10 RC and the edit history here.
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