Following a phone call with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday, January 4th that he would deliver light battle tanks to Ukraine. The number of tanks and the delivery time have not yet been communicated.
According to the expert Édouard Jolly, interviewed on the radio on Thursday, January 5th by France Info, these tanks are old equipment, belonging to the AMX-10 RC category. The light battle tanks, whose production was launched in the 1970s at the time of President Georges Pompidou, are being replaced by the French army in favour of the Jaguar tank. France has 248 of the AMX-10 RC tanks, which means that the supply pledge will not inflict too much damage to its own reserves.
The term ‘light battle tank’ can be confusing. In fact, it is more technically a reconnaissance vehicle—mounted on wheels rather than tracks, which guarantees great mobility. Carrying a 105mm gun, the tank is not compatible with NATO-standard ammunition and must therefore be accompanied by French ammunition. Ukrainian soldiers will also require training before they can use them, but these soldiers have, in recent months, demonstrated on several occasions their ability to adapt to the different equipment delivered to them.
This is the first time that a Western-designed tank, in this case French, will be sent to Ukraine, the French presidency said. Emmanuel Macron, who reaffirmed to Volodymyr Zelensky the “unfailing support” of France “until victory,” wanted to “demonstrate the permanence and continuity” of French military aid. Ukraine has also asked for Leclerc tanks—the premium battle tank used by French armoured forces—but for the moment France has not responded to this request.
The Ukrainian president welcomed the deepening of French commitment in his video address: “France is taking European defence support to Ukraine to a new level, and I thank President Macron for this leadership,” he said on Wednesday evening. He also indicated his intention to use this opportunity to put pressure on other states to provide more equipment. “This sends a clear signal to all our other partners: there is no rational reason why Ukraine should not yet be supplied with Western-style tanks.” Behind these words is a thinly-veiled criticism of the Germans, who remain reluctant to send their Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, believing that this would prompt an escalation with Russia.
