AML-90 / Eland

The Panhard AML (Auto Mitrailleuse Légère) was developed by the Société de Constructions Panhard et Levassor following a 1956 French Ministry of Defense requirement for an indigenous 4x4 armored car. The design, designated Model 245, reached the prototype stage in 1959 and entered production in 1960. The vehicle entered service in 1961, initially intended for counter-insurgency roles during the Algerian War. As conventional threats from Soviet airborne forces became a priority for French strategists, the 90mm variant was introduced to provide anti-tank capability. South Africa produced the Eland, a licensed derivative featuring a water-cooled engine and a lengthened rear hull.

The chassis is constructed from 13 welded pieces and accommodates a crew consisting of a driver, commander, and gunner. The AML-90 variant is equipped with a DEFA D921 90mm low-pressure rifled cannon and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. This main armament fires fin-stabilized high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and high-explosive (HE) projectiles, with HEAT rounds capable of penetrating 320mm of armor. The AML-60 variant is fitted with a 60mm breech-loading mortar and twin machine guns. The automotive design includes a Panhard air-cooled petrol engine and a gearbox assembly with separate high and low ranges for road and off-road operation. The suspension utilizes coil springs, and the wheels feature nitrogen inner tubes to provide run-flat capability. Steering is manual and requires the vehicle to be in motion for effective operation.

The AML has been exported to more than fifty countries and produced in large numbers. French forces utilized the vehicle in territorial defense regiments and with the Foreign Legion for airborne assaults. During operations in Chad, the AML-90 was used to engage Libyan main battle tanks and armored cars. The Israel Defense Forces operated the AML-90 in the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition, recording tank kills against T-54 and M48 units. In the Lebanese Civil War, the vehicle was employed by the national army and regional militias for urban combat. Irish Army units deployed the AML-90 with UNIFIL, notably during the 1980 engagement at At Tiri. The Iraqi Army utilized both the AML-90 and AML-60 during the invasion of Iran and the Gulf War. Argentina deployed vehicles during the Falklands War for the defense of Port Stanley, where they were eventually captured by British forces. Portugal utilized the AML-60 in colonial conflicts in Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau, often retrofitting them with liquid-cooled engines for tropical service.