War in Ukraine. the first French tanks arrived at the “front line”.

AMX-10 RC reconnaissance armored vehicles promised by France in early January.just arrived in ukraineMinister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced on March 15 before the Defense Committee of the National Assembly. “Some have already moved on– he said, without mentioning the number of cars delivered. The minister already promised the supply of armored vehicles.”from next weekin an interview given to Parisian on February 18.

The delivery was to take place two months after the announcement, in order to prepare the personnel and train them at the Saumur Cavalry School and Camp Canjouer, then to send the armored vehicles. “I’m looking at how we can do a second wave of sessions. I am preparing a number of decisions for the President of the Republic, because these [blindés]the Ukrainian partner is starting to get a good gripadded the minister.

France had announced the delivery of AMX-10 RC armored vehicles, while the debate raged among the chancellors about the advisability of supplying battle tanks, German Leopards or American Abrams. But Paris decided not to send the Leclerc tanks. A decision which the Minister supports because it “not a political taboo, but very operative and very specific“. Indeed, France has only a few battle tanks (about 200 in operation), and “the second is that we no longer produce it“. The production line at Roanne was stopped in 2008, unlike the American and German tanks.

Very portable cars

On the other hand, 247 AMX-10 are in possession of the French army, according to the Ministry of the Armed Forces, this number should be revised downwards, taking into account the age and wear of these armored vehicles. Moreover, these tanks are being replaced by Jaguar, which is starting to be accepted in certain units. These armored reconnaissance vehicles have been in service with the army since 1981 and were deployed during the first Persian Gulf War in Afghanistan and the Sahel. Highly mobile, these vehicles can be used for reconnaissance missions as well as fire support during combat operations.

This tank has a 105 mm gun that can fire up to 2000 meters with a load capacity of 38 rounds. In addition, a 7.62 mm machine gun is installed. At the end of November, the Czech Republic had already delivered 90 T-72B tanks to Ukraine with the financial support of the USA and the Netherlands.