![]() The vehicle can be described as a wheeled tank destroyer. "RC" stands for " Roues-Canon", meaning "wheeled gun". 108 units were sold to Morocco and 12 to Qatar. Equipping French cavalry units since 1981, over 240 remained in service with the French Army in 2021. As explained at the beginning of this article, the definitions are specific to each country's armed forces.The AMX-10 RC is a French armoured fighting vehicle manufactured by Nexter Systems for armoured reconnaissance purposes. Nevertheless, this qualification is not 100% accurate : other definitions do not qualify the AMX-10 RC as a light tank but as an armed reconnaissance armor or even as an armored reconnaissance vehicle. Moreover, light tanks are, in general, very often used in missions of reconnaissance of armored forces and support of engaged troops. In conclusion, this vehicle can be quite qualified as a light battle tank, in view of the 1996 NATO definition. Therefore, from this perspective, the AMX-10 RC can become a main vehicle for light armored forces. The mobility of the AMX-10 RC allows it to support the other light armored vehicles of the forces involved. A second negative point is its use as the main vehicle of armored forces. However, armor remains a negative point for the AMX-10 RCR. ![]() The AMX-10 RCR and the Leclerc battle tank have many points in common according to the NATO definition. In addition, any wheeled armoured fighting vehicles entering into service which meet all the other criteria stated above shall also be deemed battle tanks." Comparison between an AMX-10 RCR and a Leclerc main battle tank Such armoured vehicles serve as the principal weapon system of ground-force tank and other armoured formations.īattle tanks are tracked armoured fighting vehicles which weigh at least 16,5 metric tons unladen weight and which are armed with a 360-degree traverse gun of at least 75 millimeters calibre. " The term "battle tank" means a self-propelled armoured fighting vehicle, capable of heavy firepower, primarily of a high muzzle velocity direct fire main gun necessary to engage armoured and other targets, with high cross-country mobility, with a high level of self-protection, and which is not designed and equipped primarily to transport combat troops. In 1996, NATO published the main characteristics of the battle tank ( point 7 of this page): In the French language the char de combat/main battle tank then gradually gave way to the simple "char" while the English language retains the term MBT generally. the equivalent (and then superior) mobility of the light tank.the equivalent (and then superior) mass of the medium tank (American M4 Sherman).the equivalent (and then superior) protection of a heavy tank (German Tiger I and Tiger II, Soviet IS-2, etc.).the equivalent (and then superior) firepower of a super-heavy tank (such as the German Maus).These tanks are then gradually replaced by a new tank : the MBT ( Main Battle Tank or main battle tank), also called battle tank or battle tank ( Battle tank). But what is a tank?Īs the Cold War began to take hold, the land armament industries of many countries improved and developed new technologies, changing the concept of the tank entirely, divided (roughly for this article) into light, medium, heavy or super-heavy tanks. Yet, the two Horizon class ships correspond more to missile destroyers than frigates. For example, in terms of naval qualification, the French Navy only uses frigates. However, it should be noted that military equipment qualifications can vary by country. For example, a video presenting this vehicle by the Army, published on Youtube on September 14, 2021, used the term tank to refer to the AMX-10 RC ( link to video, starting at 00:37). However, by tradition and as a result of its employment tactics, the French Armed Forces sometimes nickname its AMX-10 RCs as tanks or even light tanks. Generally speaking, the AMX-10 RC is analyzed as an armored combat vehicle or even an armed reconnaissance vehicle. However, the qualification of " char " seems to have launched some debate in the press and generally on social networks. On January 4, 2023, after speaking by phone, the Ukrainian and French Presidents both confirmed a forthcoming delivery of " light tanks AMX-10 RC " from France to Ukraine ( article on the subject).
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