AMX-10 RC

The AMX-10 RC is a French armoured fighting vehicle manufactured by Nexter Systems for armoured reconnaissance purposes. Equipping French cavalry units since 1981, over 240 remained in service with the French Army in 2021. 108 units were sold to Morocco and 12 to Qatar. "RC" stands for "Roues-Canon", meaning "wheeled gun". English language newspapers have often incorrectly referred to it as a light tank, a mistranslation of the French term "char", which refers to a wider category of armored fighting vehicles than the English word "tank".

This article is about the French wheeled tank destroyer. For the French tracked amphibious IFV, see AMX-10P.

AMX-10 RC
A French Army AMX 10 RCR after the Bastille Day Parade (July 14, 2021)
Type
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1981–present
Wars
  • Western Sahara War
  • Gulf War
  • Kosovo War
  • War in Afghanistan
  • Mali War
  • Operation Serval
  • Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed1970
No. built464
Specifications
Mass
  • 15.8 tonnes (17.4 short tons; 15.6 long tons)
  • 16.6 tonnes (18.3 short tons; 16.3 long tons) with add-on armor
  • 17.2 tonnes (19.0 short tons; 16.9 long tons) AMX-10 RCR
  • 22 tonnes (24 short tons; 22 long tons) with the SEPAR mine/IED protection kit
Length
  • 9.15 m (30 ft 0 in) (gun forward)
  • 6.24 m (20 ft 6 in) (hull only)
Width2.78 m (9 ft 1 in)
Height2.56 m (8 ft 5 in)
Crew4
Armor
  • Frontal armour resistant against 23 mm API from 300 m
  • 14.5 mm AP all-around with add-on armor
Main
armament
105 mm F2 BK MECA L/47 medium-pressure gun (38 rounds)
Secondary
armament
  • 1 × 7.62 mm NF1 coaxial machine gun (4,000 cartridges)
  • 1 × 12.7 mm M2HB AA machine gun (optional)
  • 4 × GALIX smoke dischargers
Engine
  • Hispano-Suiza HS-115 multifuel (1981–1985)
  • Baudouin Diesel Model 6F11 SRX (current)

  • HS-115: 186 kW (249 hp) at 3,200 rpm
  • 6F11: 209 kW (280 hp) at 3,000 rpm
Power/weightfrom 11.8 kW/tonne
Suspensionvariable hydropneumatic
Operational
range
800 km (500 mi) on road
Maximum speed
  • 85 km/h (53 mph) on road
  • 40 km/h (25 mph) off-road

The AMX-10 RC is distinct from the amphibious AMX-10P: they share automotive components, but have completely different battlefield roles. The AMX-10 RC is usually used for reconnaissance missions in dangerous environments or for fire support.

Since 2021, France has been gradually replacing it with the EBRC Jaguar.

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