The Amiot 143 series was designed as a multi-role aircraft capable of bombing, reconnaissance and escort duties. Blocky and ungainly, it was characterized by an all-metal cantilever, high-wing monoplane design which was also one of the oldest available in the French inventory in 1940 having been conceived as far back as 1928, the only reason of its existence well over a decade later was simply because French industry was unable to come up with a suitable replacement. Amiot 143s were responsible for some successful night bombing missions over the Rhine, Belgium and France but were slaughtered when attempting tactical daylight bombing as proved by one daring but disastrious mission over Sedan in which all but one aircraft from two groups survived. After the surrender, many served in Vichy France as transports with a few taken over by the Germans, surviving units were eventually replaced by LeO 451s.

The Amiot 140MX prototype first flew in April 1931 to a 1928 specification. Various modifications including the addition of gun turrets and a new engine were performed before the final production variant, the Amiot 143M came out in 1935. Experimental modifications also resulted in the Amiot 144M with retractable undercarriage and the navalized Amiot 150BE torpedo bomber with new wings and either a wheeled undercarriage or floats.