The AMX 10RC was deployed in Chad during Operation Manta in 1983/84 and during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq during 1991.

300 French Army vehicles are being upgraded with new engine and transmission, a battlefield management information system (developed by Giat and EADS company Aerospatiale Matra Systemes), the Galix self-protection system and new PR4G radios from Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF). Deliveries will begin in 2003 and the upgrade is intended to maintain the operational capability of the vehicles until 2015-2020.

There are two turret configurations for the AMX 10RC: the TK 105 turret with light 105 mm gun or the TML 105 turret with 105 mm NATO standard gun, both manufactured by Giat Industries. The TK 105 and TML 105 turrets use a mantlet sight, which is firmly linked to the movements of the gun for firing accuracy.

The TML 105 turret has a conveyor for storing and loading ammunition rounds. The Giat Industries APFSDS (armour-piercing, fin-stabilised, discarding sabot) 105 F1 round, fired by the TML 105 gun, can destroy single and triple NATO heavy tanks at a distance of 2,200 m. The hit probability is stated as higher than 90% at 2,000 m.

The close defence of the AMX 10RC is provided by a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.

The AMX 10RC is equipped with the Galix defence system, which dispenses anti-personnel grenades, large band smoke grenades and decoys. The welded light alloy structure provides protection against artillery shell splinters and automatic medium calibre weapons.

The AMX 10 RC can be fitted with nuclear, chemical and biological warfare (NBC) protection with air filtering and crew compartment overpressurisation.

The TK 105 turret has a Cotac fire control system from SFIM Industries (now part of SAGEM), to acquire fixed and mobile targets in less than 6 seconds by day or night. In the TK 105 turret, for daytime operations, the commander is provided with wide field episcopes and a 360 degree panoramic M389 sight with x 2 and x 8 magnifications. This serves to retain direct observation independently from the turret, whilst the gunner uses a x 10 magnification M504 sight with an M550 laser rangefinder.

By night, the commander and the gunner are provided with a DIVT 13 low light level television camera from Thomson-CSF, which is effective up to 1,200 m. The TK 105 turret can also be fitted with a Thomson-CSF DIVT 16 Castor thermal camera, which provides observation and identification to a range of 4,000 m.

The TML 105 turret has a Soptac fire control system, also from SFIM, which provides automatic acquisition of targeting parameters for on-the-move firing against mobile targets. It is equipped with a range of modular day and night observation equipment, based on image intensifiers or infra-red technology. The capabilities range from firing by day against fixed targets to on-the-move firing by day and by night against mobile targets at a distance of more than 2,000 m.

The vehicle has similar cross-country performance to that of a tracked vehicle. The transmission and suspension are integrated inside the hull to prevent damage. The skid steering allows for on-the-spot-turning. The pressure in the tyres can be adapted on the move to suit ground conditions. The vehicle can continue with total or partial destruction of one or two of the six tyres.

The hydropneumatic suspension is supplied by Messier Auto Industrie. The AMX 10RC can negotiate 50% gradients, 30% side slopes, 1.65 m ditches and vertical steps up to 0.8 m. The vehicle has a sustained top speed of over 85 km/h on roads and an unrefuelled range of 1,000 km. It is amphibious with a maximum speed of 2 m per second in water. Water propulsion is provided by two water jets. It is also air transportable in a C-130, IL-76 or Boeing 747 aircraft.