Challenger 2 may be adopted in the '90s, but till today it's one of the most acceptable main battle tanks in the world! However, it's logical that the British Army is looking for something newer, as the tank serves for almost 25 years now. Lately, the UK announced that it will replace almost 35% of its current tank fleet.
Challenger 3 is a modern version of the previous model, and it was revealed in 2021. The first 18 of the total 147 that were ordered will be delivered in 2027. It's possible that they will be fully operational till 2030.
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But, we should mention that the British army is constantly reducing. The 148 units is a really small number!
Challenger 3 features an improved hull of the Challenger 2, with a new 120mm/L55 gun that can fire any modern ammunition. The tank can also be equipped with an active protection system like the Raphael Trophy.
The vehicle features a high-tech fire control system, advanced battlefield management system, automatic targeting, and tracking system, thermal cameras of long-range, and also provides a panoramic view to the commander.
The crew includes the commander, gunner, loader, and driver.
The weapon probably can reach 100kmh, while improvements have increased the accuracy while moving.
In 2021, it was announced that the UK will pay almost 800 million pounds to upgrade the 148 Challenger 2 to the 3 versions. The cost per unit is almost 5.5 million pounds, a price pretty high for an upgrade!
