AMX-32 / AMX-40

The AMX-32 was developed by AMX and APX between 1975 and 1979 as a French main battle tank intended for the export market. Designed to occupy a niche for nations with limited defense budgets, the project resulted in the production of six prototypes. The vehicle failed to secure foreign sales and did not enter serial production. The first prototype was publicly displayed at the Satory VII exhibition in 1979, initially utilizing a cast mantlet and a 105mm rifled gun. A second prototype, featuring a modified hull front for ballistic protection and a welded mantlet, was shown at the Satory VIII arms fair in 1981.

The armor configuration incorporates spaced designs with hollow sections in the mantlet, turret sides, and hull noseplate. These sections are constructed with dual-hardness steel plates to counter kinetic energy projectiles. Frontal protection was tested against 57mm armor-piercing rounds and 75mm tungsten-cored projectiles. The turret side armor is designed to withstand 23mm armor-piercing rounds, while the turret roof was thickened to provide protection against autocannon fire from aircraft at steep angles. Defensive systems include six smoke grenade dischargers and a system that injects vaporized diesel fuel into the exhaust to generate a smoke screen.

Primary armament consists of either a 105mm CN 105 F1 rifled gun or a 120mm CN 120-25 smoothbore gun. Secondary weapons include a 20mm M693 autocannon and a 7.62mm AAN F1 machine gun. The fire control system utilizes an electro-hydraulic drive for turret traverse and gun elevation, with the main gun capable of stabilization through the commander's panoramic sight. The gunner is equipped with a telescopic sight featuring an integrated laser rangefinder and a low-light television camera for night observation up to 1200 meters. To reduce misalignment, the gunner's sight is an integral part of the mantlet. The commander’s TOP 7 cupola includes eight episcopes and a gyrostabilized panoramic sight with daylight and light intensification channels.

The vehicle is powered by a turbocharged Hispano-Suiza HS-110-2-SR diesel engine with an intercooler. This is paired with an automatic SESM Minerva ENC 200 transmission providing five forward and five reverse gears. The suspension system uses torsion bars and shock absorbers. The AMX-32 saw no combat history or operational deployment, as it remained in the prototype stage.