First French AMX-10 RC wheeled tanks will arrive in Ukraine in a week

French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu predicts that the first AMX-10 RC light wheeled tanks will be delivered to Ukraine at the end of next week.

Source: Lecornu in an interview with Le Parisien; European Pravda

"The training (of Ukrainians on the AMX-10 RC) is nearing completion, and the tanks will be delivered at the end of next week," the French minister said.

He refused to say how much equipment was involved "so as not to give strategic information to Russia".

"In general, the pace of training is accelerating, both on our territory with specialised training on the equipment we are supplying and in Poland with more general training of entire battalions at a rate of 600 soldiers per month, starting from March," Lecornu noted.

Commenting on the possibility of providing Ukraine with Leclerc tanks, Lecornu pointed out the shortcomings associated with the limited success of this equipment in exports. "Therefore, its transfer to Ukraine will not create a leverage effect for mass deliveries, while the coalition of countries transferring Leopard tanks has already been created," he explained.

At the beginning of January, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, announced the provision of French AMX-10 RC wheeled tanks. According to the media, Paris was initially supposed to hand over 14 AMX-10 RCs, and a total of about 40 vehicles are expected to be transferred.

The AMX-10 RC is an armoured fighting vehicle manufactured by the French company GIAT, designed for reconnaissance. It has been in the service of the French forces since 1981. As of 2021, the French army had more than 240 such vehicles; starting in 2021, they are gradually being replaced by Jaguar fighting reconnaissance vehicles.

The AMX-10 RC is equipped with a 105 mm gun, a 7.62 mm machine gun and two electrically operated smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret. 38 rounds of 105 mm ammunition, 4,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, and 16 smoke grenades are carried.

The French APC is often referred to as a "wheeled tank" because it is capable of fighting armoured vehicles. 

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!