The first batch of 14 AMX-10RC wheeled combat vehicles was sent to Ukraine after the Ukrainian crews completed their training at the Saumur Cavalry School (École de cavalerie, Saumur), one of the oldest French training centers.
As the French specialized publication Forces Operations Blog writes, "fourteen AMX-10RC armored vehicles have left for Ukraine in line with the promise of the defense minister who previously wanted to provide this equipment to Ukraine within two months."
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The training included not only "armored reconnaissance", but to some extent ‘front-line’ use use of this vehicle, which can be classified as a "light wheeled tank".
"An interesting detail that can give rise to empty discussions: the Ukrainian military contingent sent to Maine-et-Loire did not consist only of experts in armored reconnaissance despite the fact that the French training program was based mainly on this type of task. This fuels the versions regarding the probable more ‘front-line’ use of the equipment by the Ukrainian troops," Forces Operations Blog writes.
At the same time, the time required for the transfer of the first vehicles turned out to be somewhat shorter than previously announced. It is worth recalling that the transfer of the AMX-10RC armored vehicles to the Armed Forces of Uraine in Paris was announced at the beginning of January, but the terms of the transfer of the first batch were outlined within "two months", that is, until March.
But, considering everything, either the transfer of the vehicles happened faster, or the training course for Ukrainian fighters was shortened many times. In any case, it took about 40 days for the transfer of the first French Wheeled Tanks from the moment of the public announcement of the delivery of the AMX-10RC.
We should also note that in the Western media there is a different number of AMX-10RC vehicles to be transferred to Ukraine: from 30 to 40 units. And the gradual transfer of vehicles is connected with the fact that, in addition to the issue of repair and restoration of equipment, the "bottleneck" may be the "carrying capacity" of the French educational institution.
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