Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led some experts to question whether tanks are still relevant in modern warfareCurrent weaponry has revealed certain vulnerabilities in this type of armored vehicle, which sometimes has to be moved with homemade metal cages to protect the weakest parts of its hull.
But the major military powers of the planet seem to be far from wanting to retire these vehicles. In fact, some of them are investing considerable sums of money to update them. This is the case of the United Kingdom, which has presented the Challenger 3. It is a main battle tank that embraces the latest in technology. Let’s see.
Challenger 3, the latest from the British Army
The Challenger 3, as we will see below, is a direct evolution of the Challenger 2, the British Army’s main armoured fighting vehicle. Behind both vehicles is Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL)a contractor that has not hesitated to claim that it is producing “NATO’s most advanced and capable main battle tank.”
The British Ministry of Defence, for its part, has claimed that it is the “most lethal tank the United Kingdom has ever had.” This is a set of statements that, although ambitious and full of superlatives, must be analysed with caution. Claims of technological superiority in the military field are as frequent as they are inevitable.
When we talk about the Challenger 3 we are referring to a heavy vehicle designed to carry out missions in all types of climates. It has observation systems for the commander and gunner that work both day and night, improved overall armoror, with additional protection on the front and sides of the turret.
The tank also features an improved tactical communications system, an optimized engine, increased engine performance, open electronic architecture that allows for future upgrades, and a 120 mm cannon that can fire standard NATO ammunition and upgraded ammunition. Inside, this 66-tonne armored vehicle can carry up to four people.
It should be noted that we are not dealing with a completely new tank. Here, a fact that may go unnoticed: the Challenger 3 tanks are, basically, tanks Improved Challenger 2. RBSL was awarded a £800m (just over €950m) contract for the project in May 2021.
It involves upgrading 148 existing Challenger 2 tanks to Challenger 3s. This means that when the new tanks start entering service (estimated sometime in 2025), the British Army will not be increasing its number of armoured vehicles, but will instead have some of its units upgraded.
Images | UK Ministry of Defence
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