"The export-minded AMX-40 Main Battle Tank failed to net any global orders and was formally cancelled by 1990."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the AMX-40 Main Battle Tank (MBT).
1 x Poyaud 12-cylinder diesel engine developing 1,100 horsepower. Installed Power
43 mph 70 kph Road Speed
373 miles 600 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the AMX-40 Main Battle Tank (MBT).
4 (MANNED) Crew
32.9 ft 10.04 meters O/A Length
11.0 ft 3.36 meters O/A Width
10.1 ft 3.08 meters O/A Height
94,799 lb 43,000 kg | 47.4 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the AMX-40 Main Battle Tank (MBT).
1 x 120mm smoothbore main gun
1 x 20mm F2 coaxial autocannon
1 x 7.62mm general purpose machine gun at commander's cupola.
AMMUNITION: 35 x 120mm projectiles
Variants Notable series variants as part of the AMX-40 family line.
AMX-40 - Base Series Designation; only four prototypes completed; project cancelled by 1990.
The AMX-40 was an abandoned French main battle tank design intended for export to succeed the equally export-minded AMX-32 series f French-produced tanks. At least four prototypes were constructed during a span from 1983 to 1985. Design of the type began in the early 1980s, eventually yielding the first pilot vehicle in 1983. This was followed a year later by a pair of further prototypes and the final evaluation vehicle was completed in 1985. In theory, the AMX-40 would have provided a cost-effective main battle tank solution that offered firepower, limited protection and above average cross-country performance to those budget-conscious military shoppers. However, limited global market interest eventually doomed the program to zero contract sales with serious interest being generated only by neighboring Spain.
At its core, the AMX-40 was a tank of highly conventional design and configuration. The vehicle was operated by standard a crew of four personnel - the driver, gunner, loader and commander. The driver maintained a front-left hull position while the remaining crew were kept within the traversing turret. The turret was situated at the center of the hull roof and brandished a long, multi-sectioned 120mm main gun barrel. The AMX-40 borrowed the same COTAC fire control system as found on the preceding AMX-30 B2 production models. The design of the turret incorporated sloped armor to help deflect incoming enemy rounds and further protection was offered through the six smoke grenade dischargers (three to a turret side). The AMX-40 sported six road wheels to a track side (one more than the original AMX-32) with the drive sprocket at the rear and the track idler at the front of the hull. The engine was held in a compartment at the rear of the hull for maximum protection. Interestingly, the AMX-40 design featured a co-axially mounted 20mm F2 autocannon as opposed to the more traditional 7.62mm general purpose machine gun fitting found in other Western tanks. A turret roof-mounted 7.62mm machine gun was installed at the commander's cupola to combat low-flying enemy aircraft or enemy infantry. The vehicle's listed weight was 47.38 tons.
Power was supplied by way of a single Poyaud V12X diesel engine developing 1,100 horsepower. This potentially gave the vehicle a top speed of 43 miles per hour with acceptable operational ranges. Armament protection, when initially designed, was actually quite good but advancements in projectile types and anti-tank missiles soon degraded its base value.
The AMX-40 program was officially dropped from the market by 1990.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the AMX-40. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 4 Units Contractor(s): AMX - France
[ None. ]
1 / 1
Image released to the Public Domain via user on Wikipedia.
Going Further... The AMX-40 Main Battle Tank (MBT) appears in the following collections:
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.
