Associated Press/Defense News
January 5, 2023

France eyes delivery of tank-killing vehicles to Ukraine

The French Armed Forces Ministry said Thursday it will soon hold talks with its Ukrainian counterpart to arrange for the delivery of armored combat vehicles in what France’s presidency says will be the first time this type of Western-made wheeled tank-destroyer will be given to the Ukrainian military.

Discussions will include the delivery timetable and the training of Ukrainian soldiers on the equipment, the ministry said.

Designated as “light tanks” in French, the AMX-10 RC carries a 105mm cannon and two machine guns….

Ukraine has for months sought to be supplied with heavier tanks, including the American-made Abrams and the German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

The Czech Republic and Poland have provided Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Ukrainian forces.

France’s decision was announced after an hourlong call between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday afternoon….

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Paris has supplied Ukraine with a substantial chunk of its arsenal of Caesar cannons, as well as anti-tank missiles, Crotale air defense missile batteries and rocket launchers. It is also training some 2,000 Ukrainian troops on French soil.

Britain says it has given Ukraine more than 200 armored vehicles for troop transport, but no tanks as of yet.

Built by GIAT, the AMX-10 RC production line launched in the mid-1970s. While the amphibious, four-wheel drive vehicle is primarily used for reconnaissance, its 105mm gun can also be used as a tank-destroyer. The vehicle – argued by some experts to qualify as a light tank and others as merely a combat vehicle – was designed to target the types of Soviet tanks fielded by Russia to attack Ukraine, and will be helpful for Kyiv’s defenses, a former senior NATO official noted Thursday.

While the AMX-10 does not have the armor of a heavy battle tank, it was designed with speed and mobility in mind….