AMX-10P IFV

Tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle - France

The AMX-10P is a French-made amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) that was designed and produced by the French company GIAT Industries (now Nexter) in the 1970s. The development of the AMX-10P was driven by the need for a new IFV that could operate in amphibious and non-amphibious roles. The production of the vehicle began in 1972 and it was first introduced into service with the French Army in 1973 and has since been used by several other countries. Despite its age, the AMX-10P remains in service with several countries today. However, it has largely been replaced by more modern IFVs in many militaries. Since 2008, the AMX-10P in service with the French army has been replaced by the VBCI, an 8x8 wheeled armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). In September 2055, the General Delegation for Armaments (DGA) signed a contract with the French company Nexter to upgrade the AMX-10P. Between 2006 and 2008, 108 AMX-10Ps were upgraded by the French company Nexter for an amount of €50 million.

AMX-10P IFV variants:

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

Armament

The AMX-10P is fitted with a one-man turret, with the gunner doubling as the vehicle commander. The turret is armed with one 20mm automatic cannon. The 20mm cannon is mounted externally on the turret and has a dual-feed system allowing the gunner to select either HE (High Explosive) or AP (Anti-Personnel) projectiles, and a burst selector. The cyclic rate of fire of the 20 mm cannon is 700 rds/min and the maximum effective range is 1,500 m. Of 325 rounds of 20 mm ready ammunition carried in the turret, 260 are HE and 65 AP. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the right of the 20 mm cannon which has a cyclic rate of fire of 900 rds/min and a maximum effective range of 1,000 m. Mounted on either side of the forward part of the turret are two electrically operated 80 mm smoke grenade dischargers which can be used to create a smoke screen to obscure the vehicle's position or movement.

Close view of the AMX-10P turret armed with one 20mm automatic cannon and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

Design and protection

The hull of the AMX-10P is made of all-welded aluminum armor with the driver's compartment at the front of the vehicle on the left, the engine compartment to the right and the troop compartment at the rear of the hull. The front of the vehicle is sloped to provide additional protection against incoming fire. The AMX-10P's armor provides protection against small arms fire and shell fragments, but it is not designed to withstand heavy armor-piercing rounds or other high-caliber weapons. The vehicle has a crew of three, including a driver, a gunner, and a commander, and can carry up to eight fully-equipped soldiers. The eight infantrymen are seated on individual bucket seats in the troop compartment at the rear. One man is seated forward and right of the turret facing the rear, one man to the right of the turret facing the turret, four men to the rear of the turret (two on each side facing outwards), and one man on each side at the rear facing inwards. They enter and leave by the large electrically operated ramp at the rear.

Mobility

The AMX-10P is powered by a Hispano-Suiza HS 115 V-8 water-cooled supercharged diesel developing 260 hp at 3,000 rpm coupled to a preselective transmission with 4 forward and 1 reverse gears. The transmission is designed to provide smooth, reliable power delivery to the vehicle's tracks, allowing it to move quickly and smoothly across a variety of terrain. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 65 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km. The AMX-10P is equipped with a torsion bar suspension system, which provides a smooth ride over rough terrain. The suspension system consists of six road wheels on each side, with the drive sprocket at the front and the idler at the rear. The road wheels are mounted on independent torsion bars, which allow them to move up and down independently of each other. The suspension system also features hydraulic shock absorbers, which help to dampen the impact of rough terrain and improve the vehicle's stability. The vehicle's tracks are made of steel and are equipped with rubber pads to improve traction on hard surfaces and reduce wear on the tracks. The AMX-10 suspension provides a good balance between mobility and stability. The vehicle is capable of operating in a variety of terrains, including soft mud, sand, and snow, as well as on hard surfaces such as roads and concrete. The suspension system helps to improve the vehicle's off-road mobility, allowing it to traverse rough terrain more easily than other wheeled vehicles. The vehicle is fully amphibious, being propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 7 km/h thanks to two water jets at the rear of the hull, one on either side of the ramp. Before entering the water two bilge pumps are switched on and the trim vane is erected at the front of the hull.

Combat Equipment

The standard equipment of the AMX-10P includes an NBC protection system, on the right side of the hull, and a heater. The vehicle can be delivered without the NBC system or the heater and optional equipment includes an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical) detector and decontamination equipment. A white searchlight is mounted coaxially to the main armament.