The engine was held in a compartment at the rear of the hull for maximum protection. 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 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 borrowed the same COTAC fire control system as found on the preceding AMX-30 B2 production models. The turret was situated at the center of the hull roof and brandished a long, multi-sectioned 120mm main gun barrel. The driver maintained a front-left hull position while the remaining crew were kept within the traversing turret. The vehicle was operated by standard a crew of four personnel - the driver, gunner, loader and commander. However, limited global market interest eventually doomed the program to zero contract sales with serious interest being generated only by neighboring Spain.Īt its core, the AMX-40 was a tank of highly conventional design and configuration. 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. This was followed a year later by a pair of further prototypes and the final evaluation vehicle was completed in 1985.
Design of the type began in the early 1980s, eventually yielding the first pilot vehicle in 1983.
At least four prototypes were constructed during a span from 1983 to 1985. 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.
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