AMX-10P

The AMX-10P was developed by the Atelier de Construction d'Issy-les-Moulineaux (AMX) in response to a French army requirement for a new tracked armoured fighting vehicle to supplement or replace the ageing AMX-VCI.[4] The first prototypes were completed around 1968 and showcased to potential domestic and international customers at Satory the following year.[1] Production did not commence on the vehicle until the French Army placed its first order in late 1972.[1] The first AMX-10Ps were delivered in mid to late 1973 to the 7th Mechanised Brigade stationed at Reims.[1] French Army AMX-10Ps were fitted with a 20 mm autocannon in a Toucan II two-man turret with seating for a gunner and commander; however, a number of other one-man turrets could be fitted, as well as an observation cupola for training vehicles.[4] Export variants of the AMX-10P also abounded, including models equipped with battlefield surveillance radars, the ATILA artillery fire control system, a bank of HOT anti-tank missiles, 60 mm or 81 mm gun-mortars, and a large 90 mm gun.[4]

Greece was the first foreign power to purchase the AMX-10P; between 1974 and 1977 the Hellenic Army ordered over a hundred individual vehicles from France, in three separate variants.[5] Qatar followed up with an order for thirty AMX-10Ps in 1975, while Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia also accounted for large export orders during the early 1980s.[5] GIAT Industries accepted a final order from Singapore for AMX-10P PAC-90s in 1994;[5] following their delivery production lines for the AMX-10P were finally closed.[3] At this point 1,750 AMX-10Ps had been manufactured.[3]

Approximately 108 AMX-10Ps remaining in service with the French Army underwent extensive overhauls to improve their armour and mobility between 2006 and 2008, including new gearboxes and suspension systems.[6] They are gradually being retired and replaced by the wheeled Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie.[7]

AMX-10P hulls are fabricated from a welded steel[1] or aluminum alloy[2] and notable for their parallel incorporation of the driving and engine compartments. The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle and to the left.[1] An AMX-10P's driving compartment is provided with a single hatch cover opening to the rear and three periscopes intended for observation purposes when the hatch is closed.[1] Night vision equipment was not fitted as standard to the base production model; however, one of the three driving periscopes could be replaced with combined day/night intensification sights as needed.[1] The troop compartment is at the rear of the hull and provided with two roof hatches. Passengers embark and debark from a ramp, which is accessed through two doors at the rear.[1]

Transmission consists of a hydraulic torque converter coupled to a gearbox with one reverse and four forward driving gears.[1] The AMX-10P utilises a torsion bar suspension, which supports five road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front and idler near the rear.[1] These can be accessed from inside the hull through maintenance panels.[1]

Standard AMX-10P turrets are equipped with a GIAT M693 automatic cannon firing two different types of both high explosive ammunition and armour-piercing ammunition.[1] More than one ammunition type may be loaded at once and fired alternatively.[8] The high explosive rounds have a muzzle velocity of 1,050 m/s, while the latest armour-piercing round has a muzzle velocity of 1,300 m/s and is capable of penetrating 20 mm of rolled homogeneous armour at an incidence of 60°.[1] The autocannon has a cyclic rate of fire of 740 rounds per minute, with the gunner being able to switch between semiautomatic, limited burst, or fully automatic fire as necessary.[8]

A Singapore Army AMX-10P PAC-90 with 90 mm gun

• AMX-10P: Standard production model. Armed with a two-man Toucan II turret and a M963 F2 20 mm autocannon.[4]
• AMX-10P 25: AMX-10P with a one-man Dragar turret and a M811 25 mm autocannon.[4] This was trialled by the French Army but not adopted into service.[2] It was later adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces.[3]
• AMX-10P Marine: AMX-10P with improved amphibious capabilities and a modified propulsion system that allowed for top speeds of up to 10 km/h in water.[4] This variant was developed for the Indonesian Marine Corps.[4]
• AMX-10P Sanitaire: A turretless AMX-10P designed as an ambulance vehicle.[4] It carried a wide range of medical equipment.[1]
• AMX-10ECH: AMX-10P modified as an armoured recovery vehicle, including a large hydraulic crane.[2] Also known as the AMX-10D.[1]
• AMX-10P/HOT: AMX-10P carrying HOT anti-tank missiles.[2] Two external HOT launchers were located on either side of the hull, with an additional twenty missiles stored outside.[1] This variant was developed for the Saudi Arabian Army.[3] At least 92 were manufactured.[5]
• AMX-10PC: AMX-10P modified as a command vehicle, including additional radios, a collapsible awning on either side of the hull, and a large generator on the hull roof.[1]
• AMX-10 RATAC: An unarmed AMX-10P with a RATAC fire control radar mounted over its turret ring and a tracing table located inside the hull.[1]
• AMX-10RAV: AMX-10P modified as a general cargo transporter. The French Army used this model to transport artillery ammunition.[4]
• AMX-10RC: Wheeled variant of the AMX-10P developed for armed reconnaissance.[4]
• AMX-10SAO: AMX-10P modified as a mobile forward artillery observation post. It possessed a long-range laser rangefinder in its turret, as well as a 7.62mm machine gun.[4]
• AMX-10SAT: AMX-10P modified as an artillery survey vehicle.[3] It was fitted with a custom navigation system.[4]
• AMX-10TM: AMX-10P modified as an artillery tractor, with a new one-man turret and its rear ramp removed.[1] It towed a F1 120 mm mortar and carried 60 mortar projectiles.[4]
• AMX-10VAO: AMX-10P modified as a mobile forward artillery observation post. It possessed a slightly different turret from the AMX-10SAO.[4]
• AMX-10VFA: AMX-10P carrying the ATILA artillery fire control system.[4] This spawned two sub-variants of its own, the more simplified AMX-10VLA, and the more sophisticated AMX-10VFA.[4]
• AMX-10P TMC-81: AMX-10P with an 81 mm breech loading, Hotchkiss-Brandt CL-81 gun-mortar.[4] Similar in concept to the earlier CM60A1, the CL-81 fired both high explosive and armour-piercing shells.[4]
• AMX-10P PAC-90: AMX-10P with the complete turret and 90 mm main gun assembly of the Panhard ERC-90 Sagaie armoured car.[4] It carried 30 90 mm shells and 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm machine gun ammunition.[4] This variant was marketed primarily to Indonesia and Singapore.[3]

This section is about operators of the AMX-10P tracked infantry fighting vehicle and its engineering and recovery variants. For operators of the wheeled armoured car derivative, see AMX-10RC.

Map of AMX-10P operators in blue, with former operators in red.

•  Abu Dhabi: 15[5]
•  Bosnia-Herzegovina: 25[5]
•  Indonesia: 34[5]
•  Iraq: 100;[5] some modernized in 2015[9]
•  Saudi Arabia: 293[5]
•  Morocco: 10[10]
•  Qatar: 40[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AMX-10 P.

• AMX-10P from 2sd GC in Germany in 1989
• topgun.rin.ru
• inetres.com