In　this　paper,　a　novel　cladding　sandwich　panel　with　aluminum　foam-filled　tubular　cores　(AFTC　panel)　was　proposed　to　enhance　the　impact　resistant　performance　of　the　traditional　sandwich　panel　with　empty　tubular　cores　(ETC　panel).　The　impact　force　and　displacement　responses,　failure　modes　and　energy　absorption　of　the　ETC　and　AFTC　panels　under　impact　loading　were　studied　via　drop-weight　impact　tests　and　numerical　simulations.　It　was　found　that　the　impact　process　of　the　sandwich　panel　could　be　divided　into　three　stages.　In　addition,　the　tubular　cores　and　aluminum　foam　filler　were　found　to　dissipate　the　majority　of　the　impact　energy.　The　effects　of　impactor　shape,　impact　position,　aluminum　foam　filler　and　thickness　ratio　of　flat　steel　plate　to　tube　(t(f)/t(t))　on　the　impact　behaviors　of　the　sandwich　panels　were　quantitatively　studied.　The　results　indicated　that　the　impact　force　and　energy　absorption　could　be　improved　via　filling　aluminum　foam,　increasing　the　aluminum　foam　density　and　increasing　the　contact　area　between　the　impactor　and　sandwich　panel.　Filling　aluminum　foam　could　also　avoid　the　sharp　increase　of　the　impact　force　after　the　compaction　of　the　sandwich　panel.　The　impact　position　exhibited　little　effect　on　the　energy　absorption　of　the　sandwich　panel　when　it　was　away　from　the　edge　of　the　sandwich　panel.　Moreover,　the　sandwich　panel　generally　exhibited　better　energy　absorption　performances　via　specifying　the　flat　steel　plate　and　tubular　cores　to　be　of　similar　thickness.