This has a binocular system for infrared light by night and a monocular system for day driving. The centre periscope, depending on the model of the tank, can be either a day periscope which can be replaced by an image intensification night periscope (Thomson-CSF TH 9478), or a SOPELEM OB-16A periscope. The driver is seated at the front of the vehicle on the left with a single-piece hatch cover opening to the left and three periscopes. It is divided into three compartments: driver's at the front, fighting in the centre and the engine at the rear. The hull of the AMX-30 is made of rolled steel plates welded together. Additional details of these upgrades are given later in this entry. Late in 1994 the chassis went back in production as the French Army ordered another batch of 20 GCT 155 mm self-propelled howitzers.Īlthough the Giat Industries 120 mm armed Leclerc MBT is being introduced into service with the French Army the older AMX-30 B2 is now expected to remain in service until 2010.įor this reason it is being upgraded in a number of key areas including the installation of explosive reactive armour and a new diesel engine. Production of the AMX-30 series was completed late in 1993 when the last AMX-30 EBGs were completed for the French Army. Late in 1989 Cyprus placed an order with Giat for the supply of a further 35 AMX-30 B2 MBTs and another AMX-30D armoured recovery vehicle.ĪMX-30 series MBTs were used by France, Saudi Arabia and Qatar during operations conducted early in 1991 to retake Kuwait following its invasion by Iraq in 1990.

In 1987, Cyprus placed an order with France for the supply of 15 AMX-30 B2 MBTs and a single AMX-30D armoured recovery vehicle these were delivered in 1988. Production of the AMX-30 began in 1966 at the Centre de Roanne and the AMX-30 was also built under licence in Spain (qv).

Prior to production two preproduction tanks were built. A further seven prototypes built with the Hispano-Suiza HS 110 12-cylinder multi-fuel engine, which was also fitted to production tanks, were completed early in 1963 and in July of that year the tank was adopted by the French Army as the replacement for its US-supplied M47 tanks. Design work was carried out on the AMX-30 at the Atelier de Construction d'lssy-les-Moulineaux, with the first two prototypes being completed in 1960.

Engine compartment of a military tank