The main armament of the AMX-30 is a Giat Industries 105 mm smoothbore gun designated the CN-105-F1 with a length of 56 calibers. The gun does not have a muzzle brake or a fume extractor but is fitted with a magnesium alloy thermal sleeve. A compressed air system evacuates any fumes from the barrel. The recoil system consists of two diametrically opposed hydraulic brakes and an oleo-pneumatic recuperator for counter-recoil of the barrel. Mounted to the right of the commander's cupola is a 7.62 mm Model F1 machine gun which can be aimed and fired from within the cupola. The weapon has an elevation of +45º and a depression of -10º. In total 2,050 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are carried, of which 550 are ready for immediate use. The empty cartridge cases are automatically ejected outside the tank. The maximum effective range of the 7.62 mm machine gun is quoted as 700 m. There are two smoke grenade dischargers mounted either side of the turret which can lay a smoke screen covering the tank in 8 seconds.

The hull of the AMX-30 MBT is made of rolled steel plates welded together. It is divided into three compartments: driver's at the front, fighting in the center, and the power pack at the rear. The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left with a single-piece hatch cover opening to the left and three day periscopes. The armor of the AMX-30 is very thin and protects only from small-bore cannons and artillery shell splinters.