AMX-10 RC

AMX-10 RC
AMX-10 RC
	A French Army AMX 10 RCR after the 2021 Bastille Day Parade
Type	Armoured reconnaissance vehicle; Fire support vehicle;
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1981–present
Wars	Western Sahara War; Gulf War; Kosovo War; War in Afghanistan; Mali War; Operation Serval; Russian invasion of Ukraine;
Production history
Designed	1970
No. built	464
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);
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; 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/weight	from 11.8 kW/tonne
Suspension	variable 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 a French armoured fighting vehicle manufactured by Nexter Systems for armoured reconnaissance purposes. Equipping French cavalry units since 1979,^[1] over 240 remained in service with the French Army in 2021 when replacement by EBRC Jaguar gradually started.^[2] 108 units were sold to Morocco and 12 to Qatar. "RC" stands for "Roues-Canon", meaning "wheels-gun", as it is 6-wheeled and armed with a 105 mm calibre gun. Newspapers and officials^[3] have often incorrectly^[4] referred to it as a "char léger"^[5] (light tank).^[6]^[7]

The AMX-10 RC is distinct from the amphibious AMX-10P: they both have a waterproof welded aluminum chassis and 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.

^ https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/remise-du-premier-vehicule-amx-10-rc-au-2e-rh-regiment-de-hussards-a-sourdun-par-yvon-bourges-ministre-de-la-defense.html
^ "Scorpion: Commande des premiers véhicules blindés Griffon et Jaguar" (in French). French Defense Ministry. 27 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023 – via Milinfo.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Search archive page for "27 juin 2017" or "AMX".
^ "Defence key figures - 2021" (PDF). December 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
^ In French "char"= "Engin de guerre motorisé et blindé, monté sur chenilles", that is, "armoured and motored war machine on tracks" has the very same meaning as tank. "tank" is also used in colloquial or old French
^ https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/guerre-en-ukraine-les-atouts-du-char-francais-amx-10-rc-10-01-2023-2504253_24.php
^ "French AMX-10 RC: Looks like a tank, but is not a tank. Why it could still be useful for Ukraine? - Technology Org". www.technology.org. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
^ Korshak, Stefan. "EXPLAINED: France's AMX-10 RC – Not Bad, Though not Really a Tank". KyivPost. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[imagedef-1] ttps://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/remise-du-premier-vehicule-amx-10-rc-au-2e-rh-regiment-de-hussards-a-sourdun-par-yvon-bourges-ministre-de-la-defense.html

[2] "Scorpion: Commande des premiers véhicules blindés Griffon et Jaguar" (in French). French Defense Ministry. 27 June 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023 – via Milinfo.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Search archive page for "27 juin 2017" or "AMX".

[DKF2021-3] "Defence key figures - 2021" (PDF). December 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.

[4] In French "char"= "Engin de guerre motorisé et blindé, monté sur chenilles", that is, "armoured and motored war machine on tracks" has the very same meaning as tank. "tank" is also used in colloquial or old French

[5] ttps://www.lepoint.fr/monde/guerre-en-ukraine-les-atouts-du-char-francais-amx-10-rc-10-01-2023-2504253_24.php

[6] "French AMX-10 RC: Looks like a tank, but is not a tank. Why it could still be useful for Ukraine? - Technology Org". www.technology.org. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

[7] Korshak, Stefan. "EXPLAINED: France's AMX-10 RC – Not Bad, Though not Really a Tank". KyivPost. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

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AMX-10 RC
A French Army AMX 10 RCR after the 2021 Bastille Day Parade
Type	Armoured reconnaissance vehicle Fire support vehicle
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1981–present
Wars	Western Sahara War Gulf War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan Mali War Operation Serval Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designed	1970
No. built	464
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)
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 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/weight	from 11.8 kW/tonne
Suspension	variable 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