The AMX-10 RC first appeared in the late 1970s to replace the Panhard EBR. It does share some parts with the AMX 10P, but are otherwise totally different. The AMX 10 RCs entered service in 1979 and in 2000, the RCs were upgraded to the Renové (RCR) standard, and are expected to remain in service until 2020-2025, at which point they should be replaced by the EBRC Jaguar. Over 240 are in service in the French Army.
Morocco ordered 108 AMX-10 RCs as soon as 1978. The vehicles supplied to them were AMX-10 RC
surblindé (uparmored) : fitted with add-on armor and without amphibious capability.
Qatar also ordered 12 AMX-10 RCs. The vehicles were delivered in 1994 from French Army stocks.
The AMX 10 RCs first participated in the 1983-84 military intervention in Chad, codenamed Operation Manta.
Some vehicle have apparently also been involved in the UN operations in Kosovo.
After upgrading, the RCR first saw action in the Ivory Coast in 2006, with the French Foreign Legion, as part of the UN peacekeeping operation there.
Two platoons of AMX-10 RCRs have also been in action in Afghanistan, in the Suroba and Kapisa regions.
Two squadrons and one platoon of RCRs were also deployed in Mali during the French intervention there, as part of Operation Serval.
Probably the most important operation of the AMX 10 RCs was during Operation Desert Storm. Prior to the actual fighting, however, the vehicles received some upgrades.
The 96 AMX-10 RCs were the most numerically important armored component of the 6th Light Armored Division. The division covered the left flank of the invasion force, protecting the Coalition forces against an enemy counter-attack. During the attack, also named Operation Daguet, the French forces clashed with the Iraqi 45th Infantry Division, which was defeated. The French also captured the As-Salman airfield. Almost 3000 Iraqis were captured, with twenty enemy tanks being destroyed and two captured. Multiple other light vehicles and artillery pieces were destroyed or captured. The French didn’t lose a single vehicle, and no losses were suffered due to enemy action.
@Thorvald of Lym ,
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