The British Army’s first pre-production Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) will be going into trials in the coming weeks, manufacturer Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) announced on 23 January 2024.
“This marks a major milestone for the army and the culmination of many months of hard work by RBSL’s engineers and technicians,” the company noted in a press release. “This prototype, along with further prototypes to follow close behind, will soon show their capabilities on trials. During the trials the prototypes will be tested under operational conditions to validate their performance and make refinements before another 140 are built and delivered to the British Army.”
The Challenger 3 features a new 120 mm L55A1 smoothbore gun built by Rheinmetall, enabling the use of the Rheinmetall’s most advanced ammunition, as well as next-generation UK-sovereign modular armour designed by the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl). It will also have a fully digitised turret and the Trophy medium Variant active protection system (APS) provided by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
“Designed with the crew’s safety, operational effectiveness and comfort at its heart, and with the users’ advice at every stage, I am sure it will prove to be a very potent and popular addition to the British army’s inventory,” RBSL Challenger 3 Deputy Project Manager Nick Berchem was quoted as saying. “It is hugely exciting and very satisfying to be part of the team bringing this immensely capable tank to life.”
Colonel Will Waugh, Senior Responsible Owner of the British Army’s Armour (Main Battle Tank) Programme, added, “Delivery of the first pre-production Challenger 3 and the commencement of trials marks a critical milestone on the journey to the army’s modernised main battle tank capability. Challenger 3 will be at the heart of the army’s armoured brigade combat teams, alongside [the] Ajax and Boxer [AFVs], under [the army’s] Future Soldier [strategy]. Events in Ukraine have underscored the need for credible warfighting capabilities. The army’s armoured brigade combat teams, with Challenger 3 at their centre, are key to the UK’s contribution to NATO’s deterrence.”
