The AMX-40 was a French prototype main battle tank developed by GIAT during the latter stages of the Cold War as an export tank to replace the failed AMX-32. Designed to be an inexpensive tank orientated towards militaries with smaller defence budgets, the AMX-40 featured a lightly armoured hull and good mobility reminiscent of previous French MBTs with a powerful 120 mm cannon. It however failed to attract interest and sales, rendering the project a failure, being discontinued in 1990.
History
Early history
As the AMX-32 had failed to attract any potential sales, GIAT decided to produce yet another upgrade, the AMX-40 Main Battle Tank. The development of the AMX-40 began in 1980 as a clean sheet design. In 1983, the first prototype was finished and presented at the Satory Exhibition that year. Two further prototypes were produced in 1984; the fourth and last one was fabricated in 1985. The design was not intended for service in France, but as a successor to the AMX-32, the improved export version of the AMX-30. However, the efforts to obtain foreign orders failed, the most serious potential customer to have considered the design being Spain. It ceased being offered for export in 1990.
Design
Armament
The main armament consisted of a GIAT 120 mm CN120-25 model G1 smoothbore gun. The main gun ammunition load was 37 to 40 rounds depending on the prototype. Up to 17 rounds can be stored in the turret, 14 of those are stored in a sealed compartment inside the turret bustle fitted with blowout panels. Ten of them are loaded in two electrically-operated drums. The rest of the rounds were stored in a large rack to the right of the driver. The tank could fire a variety of ammunition loads, including the OCC 120 G1 HEAT round and the OFL 120 G1 APFSDS round. The auxiliary armament included a 20 mm M693 autocannon, a derivative of the GIAT designed F2 autocannon. Since the elevation system can be operated independently of that of the 120 mm gun, this armament provides a not inconsiderable capability for defense against ground and air targets. In addition, a 7.62 mm AAN-F1 light machine gun for short-range anti-aircraft or ground defense is linked to the hatch of the TOP 7 commander cupola. It can be fired from inside the cupola. Twelve Lacroix Galix 80 mm launchers are grouped in two packs of six and are located on either side of the turret, these launchers can throw aerosol smoke grenades, flares and anti-personnel fragmentation grenades.
The gunner has a M581 monocular telescopic sight with a magnification of x10, it is fitted with a CILAS laser rangefinder and linked to the COSTAC integrated automatic firecontrol system. The commander has the latest iteration of the TOP 7 cupola with eight non-reflecting periscopes. A SFIM M527 gyrostabilized panoramic sight with three channels ; two daylight and one with light intensification. The M527 sight makes it possible to observe and open fire almost instantly whilst on the move because the gun is slaved to the sight. An auxiliary daylight sight is available in option. A DIVT-13 low light television camera with a x1 magnification allows night observation up to 1200 m. It can be replaced by a DIVT 16 CASTOR thermal camera. The image obtained is displayed on two TV monitors.
Mobility
The tank was powered by a Poyaud V12XS25 diesel engine coupled to an automatic ZF LSG 3000 transmission. The number of road wheels per side was increased from the five used on the AMX-32 to six. Like the AMX-32, the AMX-40 used the same 570 mm-wide dry pin tracks of the AMX-30. The combat weight was limited to 43.7 metric tonnes. The low weight, in combination with the powerful engine, ensured an excellent mobility. The AMX-40 accelerates from 0 to 32 km/h in 6 seconds.
Armor
The front turret and hull armour incorporated composite armor bulkheads designed to withstand 76 mm armor-piercing rounds and RPG-7 warheads. The sides of the turret were made of spaced armor designed to withstand impacts from 23 mm armor-piercing rounds. Possibly, the AMX-40 could be equipped with a composite dozer blade an add-on armor on the bustle roof. Despite the armour afforded to the AMX-40, it was still considered light by late Cold War standards, especially when compared to NATO contemporaries such as the heavier M1 Abrams, Leopard 2 and Challenger 1. The armour could not effectively stop Soviet munitions fired by tanks such as the T-72 and T-80.
Prototypes
P1 : rolled out of the Satory workshop in 1983, directly issued from the work of its predecessor, the AMX-32.
P2 : used the CH2 hull and the T2 turret. The CH2 hull was modified in order to be fitted with the powerpack of the future Leclerc. In the end, it was fitted with the V12XS25 engine coupled to the LSG 3000 transmission. The P2 prototype had been handed over to the technical section of the French Army on several occasions.
P3 : used the CH3 hull and the T3 turret. It was powered by a German MTU diesel engine coupled to a ZF transmission.
P4 : consisted only of a CH4 hull using a version of the V12X engine coupled to the SESM ESM 500 transmission.
P01 : pre-production model
P02 : pre-production model
E4 : intended for the Egyptian Army, it featured an improved frontal protection against 105 mm APFSDS and HEAT rounds. The hull was lengthened and widen, the 20 mm autocannon was replaced by a 7.62 machine gun and the gunner sight was relocated on the turret roof. Due to the projected combat weight of a 1200-1300 hp engine and wider NATO standard 635 mm tracks were foreseen. The E4 project remained on the drawing board.
