Notes: The AMX-30 was first accepted into French service in 1966. They were more-or-less standard tanks of the period, with IR vision, a searchlight, reticule sight, and a 105mm gun of French design. An unusual feature is the 20mm coaxial cannon instead of a machinegun.

By 2000, most AMX-30s had long been upgraded to the AMX-30B2 standard. Lugs for reactive armor are fitted to the turret front, turret sides, and hull front, gun stabilization was upgraded, improved night vision was added, and the suspension and tracks have been improved to make the tank quieter. The AMX-30B2 has a laser rangefinder with a ballistic computer.

The AMX-30S is a desert variant of the AMX-30 for sale to Middle Eastern countries. The modifications include sand shields, and engine that doesn’t suck in so much air (and unfortunately develops less power), and the addition of a laser rangefinder. The commander has an independent sight.

Spanish AMX-30s have been given an upgrade package and are covered in Spanish Tanks.

Venezuelan AMX-30s have been given an upgrade package by SABCA of Belgium. The biggest modification is the replacement of the engine by one developing a great deal more power and having more efficiency. Fuel capacity is also increased. They have a better suspension and appliqué armor.

A limited number of French AMX-30s have been given further upgrades; these include a more powerful engine, a fully automated transmission, modified ammunition racks, an automatic fire suppression system, smoke dischargers, and an ATGM decoy system.

Notes: Deliveries of this vehicle to French forces began in 1992, and by 2000, 420 of them were built, as well as 250 for the Army of the United Arab Emirates. The Leclercs for the UAE as well as those sent to the Middle East with French forces have modifications allowing them to better operate in desert conditions, such as more efficient cooling systems, dust guards around the hull, and wider tracks, but are not otherwise different from stock Leclercs. The layout is conventional, with the driver at the front of the hull in the center, the turret in the center of the vehicle with commander and gunner’s hatches on the turret deck, and the engine at the rear. Unlike most tanks armed with a 120mm gun, the Leclerc is equipped with an autoloader that allows only 3 crewmembers to operate the tank. The gun is a longer L-52 gun, with almost identical performance to the Rheinmetall L/55 120mm gun. The bustle can carry 22 rounds of ammunition for the autoloader, and has blow out panels to minimize damage if the turret is penetrated and the ammunition detonated. If this occurs, the Leclerc is not destroyed and the crew killed; instead, the turret ammunition supply is destroyed, the autoloader may not longer be operated, the gun, optics, radios, and night vision suite take minor damage, and each crewmember takes 50 points of concussion damage. Another departure from normal tank design is that the M-2HB is the coaxial armament and the AAT-F1 machinegun is the commander’s machinegun, instead of the other way around; this also allows the M-2HB to be used as a ranging device if the rangefinder is damaged and inoperative. The AAT-F1 may be aimed and fired from within the vehicle if necessary.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The French sent few Leclercs to the Middle East, retaining most of them for use at home and sending AMX-40s as 120mm-armed tanks instead.