France to hand over dozens of armored vehicles to Ukraine soon
15 May, 2023 AMX-10RC in Ukraine, March 2023. Frame from the video In the coming weeks, France will send to Ukraine dozens of armoured vehicles.
The Ukrainian military is to receive, in particular, AMX-10RC armoured fighting vehicles. Several battalions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine will be equipped with this military equipment. Such intentions are provided for in a joint declaration issued by Ukraine and France, which was signed following the meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron.
VAB armored personnel carriers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, July 2022.
Frame from the video
"The military support provided by France since the beginning of the war to allow Ukraine to defend itself is ongoing, as new packages are being prepared, constantly taking into account the most urgent and immediate needs of Ukraine to strengthen its defense capabilities. In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," the joint declaration reads.
AMX-10RC in Ukraine, March 2023 Frame from the video
Besides, the Office of the President of Ukraine reported that France was focusing its effort on supporting Ukraine's air defense capacities in order to defend the country's population from Russian missile and air strikes. It is also noted that France is actively involved in the measures of the European Union and NATO regarding the training of the Ukrainian military.
France made a decision to transfer the AMX-10RC to Ukraine at the beginning of January this year. For security reasons, the Ministry of Defense of France does not name the amount of equipment that is planned to be transferred to Ukraine.
AMX-10RC in service with the Ukrainian Marines, April 2023. Frame from the video of Oleksii Reznikov
French AMX-10RC armored fighting vehicles entered service with the Ukrainian marines.
VAB armored personnel carrier in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
2022 year. Frame from the video of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces
Also, French VAB armored personnel carriers became another type of military equipment that Ukraine's international partners provided to resist Russia's full-scale armed aggression. The French AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles have high mobility due to their wheelbases. The armored fighting vehicle has a 6x6 wheel arrangement and is equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension system with variable ground clearance and inclination.
Therefore, a combat vehicle can effectively disguise itself in the terrain. The vehicles can be used for reconnaissance missions and provide infantry fire support in combat. The AMX-10RC is armed with a 105/47 F2 MECA 105mm rifled tank gun.
The gun's armament includes APFSDS, HEAT-FS, as well as high-explosive and fragmentation ammunition.