In a joint statement after a dinner that brought together Zelenskyy and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace on Sunday evening, the two parties agreed that “in the coming weeks, France will train Ukrainian battalions and equip them with dozens of tanks”. AMX-10RC vehicles and light vehicles. » -10RC).
What are the characteristics of this vehicle?
• Amphibious vehicles with advanced combat systems.
• A model of armed vehicles dating from the 80s and still in service.
• Participation in all French military operations abroad.
• A heavily armed reconnaissance vehicle with superior mobility on all roads.
• Protected against light infantry weapons.
• It carries a 105 mm cannon and two machine guns.
• It is 9 meters long, 2.7 meters wide and can accommodate a crew of 4 people.
• Its speed on rough roads is 40 kilometers per hour and on paved roads it is 85 kilometers per hour.
• It has advanced thermal and laser systems, an active self-protection system and a new combat management system.
Is it suitable for Ukraine?
According to expert estimates, the French army has 250 of these vehicles and is gradually replacing them with Jaguar armored combat and reconnaissance vehicles.
According to the site “Defense News”, the amphibious four-wheel drive vehicle “AMX 10 RC” is used for reconnaissance, but its guns can destroy the positions of soldiers and tanks, and Ukraine will find it very suitable for targeting the Soviet tanks that Russia sent to attack Ukraine.
Although the “AMX 10 RC” does not contain the armor of a heavy battle tank, it was designed with speed and mobility in mind, according to the US site.
The French vehicle also has enough armor to protect against small infantry weapons, and has wheels instead of tracks, allowing better mobility than heavy tanks, according to a previous statement from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces.
High performance
Dominique Carayol, a French military and strategic expert, expects that “the purchase of these vehicles will help Ukraine and motivate European partners to support it”.
Regarding its capabilities, Carayol told Sky News Arabia: “Although this vehicle has been in service with the French army since the 1980s, it has undergone continuous updates, which has made it capable. ”
As for Kiev, Ukrainian military analyst Yuriy Podolyaka commented, saying that France had taken this tank out of service to replace it with a modern one, but he nevertheless praises its capabilities, optimistic about what it will bring to his country.
He tells Sky News Arabia:
• The vehicle’s 105mm gun is one of the vehicle’s strengths.
• This is an important French step to signal to Western countries the need to support Ukraine.
• The vehicle will be light and fast in military blitz and reconnaissance missions.
• German and French support, which was announced during the visit of the Ukrainian President to the two countries, will help our country against Russian aggression.
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