AMX 10 RC

Infobox Weapon
name=AMX 10 RC


caption=AMX 10 RC
origin=France
type=Armoured car
is_vehicle=yes
length=6,24 m
width=2,78 m
height=2,56 m
weight=15 t
suspension=hydropneumatic wheel
speed=85 km/h (off-road: 25 to 30 km/h)
vehicle_range=800 to 1000 km
primary_armament=105 mm BK MECA (F2) L/48 (38 rounds) (Vo 800 m/s)
secondary_armament=AA 7,62 NF1 co-axial machine gun (4000 cartridges), 4 smoke generators. Optional 12.7-mm M2HB AA MG
armour=
engine=Baudouin Diesel Model 6F11 SRX
engine_power=280 hp (208.8 kW)
pw_ratio=
crew=4

The AMX-10RC is an armoured car built by GIAT. Over 300 are in service in the French Army. 120 additional vehicles were sold to Morocco (108) and Qatar (12).

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; both 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 105 mm 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.

The 105 mm gun fires four types of ammunition APFSDS, HE, HEAT and smoke. The APFSDS uses the penetrator from the GIAT 90 mm APFSDS round, and is capable of penetrating a NATO triple heavy tank target at a range of 2000 meters.

The AMX-10RC has been the recipient of numerous upgrades over its lifetime. Newer systems include battlefield-management system terminals, most notably. 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 105 mm 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 tire-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.

Missions

* Armoured reconnaissance
* Armoured support
* Flanking the main battle corps

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lvrap28c48 Video of AMX-10RC firing]
* [http://www.giat-industries.fr/asp/us/prod_amx10rc.asp Giat-industries.fr]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/amx-10.htm Federation of American Scientists]
* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/amx/ Army-technology.com]
* [http://www.ixarm.com/-AMX-10RC,9428- Ixarm.com]