Challenger 3

Challenger 3 is the designation of a radical upgrade of the Challenger 2 tank, introduced in 2019 by the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land consortium (a joint project of BAE Systems and Rheinmetal). The project is a response to the UK Ministry of Defence's December 2015 effort to modernize the Challenger 2 tanks through the Life Extension Project (LEP). This upgrade was to replace most of the turret subsystems (fire control system, communications and data systems, targeting systems) with new ones using the most advanced technologies without replacing the tank's own barrel armament.

Replacing an existing L30A1 gun with a rifled barrel with a new gun in the same calibre with a smoothbore barrel in the case of the Challenger 2 tank implies a massive intervention in the turret design and the associated costs. Although there have been attempts to rearm the tank in the past, due to the cost, it was never implemented, and even the LEP project did not account for it. The LEP project was due to be evaluated in 2019, and BAE Systems and Rheinmetall had each presented their own implementation proposals as early as 2016. There was no decision on the winner of the project, as in July 2019 the competent authorities decided to change the brief and the implementation date (2021). The new award (with the same acronym LEP - Life Enhancement Programme) also called for a change in the main armament, with the understanding that the increased costs necessitated by such a change would be offset by a lower number of upgraded tanks. The two companies teamed up and unveiled their modernization proposal under the Challenger 3 designation back in 2019, and subsequently unveiled a prototype as well.

The upgraded tank is armed with a 120mm Rheinmetal Rh 120 L55A1 smoothbore gun with a barrel length of 55 calibers using standard NATO ammunition (including newly developed programmable ammunition). The gun required the construction of an entirely new turret, which also featured new composite armour. Additional armament consists of a remotely operated weapon station with a 12.7mm machine gun. The instrumentation is also new (fire control system, information and communication system, sights, etc.). The tower can also be equipped with an active protection system, but this will be dealt with as a separate project.
Changes are also being made to the chassis, of which only the rear section will remain essentially unchanged. The front part has thicker armouring, new hydropneumatic suspension (3rd generation) is used, the existing Perkins engine is replaced by a 1500 hp MTU engine. The weight of the tank is increased to 66 tons. Production of the tanks will be carried out at the company's Telford plant.

In 1994-2002, the British Army received a total of 386 tanks Challenger 2. In 2010, the number of tanks in service was reduced to 225, with the expectation that they would be in service until at least 2035. On 07.05.2021, the British Ministry of Defence released information about the award of an £800 million contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land to upgrade a portion of the Challenger 2 tanks to the Challenger 3 version. The planned upgrade to Challenger 3 covers 148 Challenger 2 tanks and is scheduled to take place between 2027-2030, with Challenger 3 tanks scheduled to be in service until at least 2040.

Source: www.joint-forces.com

www.army.mod.uk

27.02.2024
Společnost Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) oznámila, že prototyp tanku Challenger 3 byl odeslán ke zkouškám do Německa. Tiskový servis RBSL k tomu poznamenal: Další důležitý milník v programu. Během těchto testů bude prototyp zkoušen tak, aby se zjistily nedostatky, které povedou k změnám v konstrukci prototypu a sériových strojů.
Odjezd prototypu mimo Británii byl důvodem k parlamentní rozpravě v které James Cartlidge, ministr pro obranné zakázky ujistil poslance, že v Británii se koná většina testů a v Německu proběhnou jen dílčí zkoušky.

Zdroj:

defence-ua.com

www.rheinmetall.com

twitter.com

twitter.com

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

This is the first all-British tank in 22 years: the Challenger 3. At Telford, 148 Challenger 2s are to be upgraded to the Challenger 3 type, and with some length it can be called a new tank.

Este es el primer tanque totalmente británico en 22 años: el Challenger 3. En Telford está previsto actualizar 148 Challenger 2 al tipo Challenger 3 y, con cierta extensión, se le puede llamar un tanque nuevo. pic.twitter.com/kwAs3MNXPG
— Poderío Militar 🇪🇸🤝🇺🇦 (@PoderioMilitar) April 18, 2024

18.04.2024
Britské ministerstvo obrany oznámilo, že osmý prototyp tanku Challenger 3 sjel z výrobní linky telfordské továrny Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land. Převzetí tanku britskou armádou byl přítomen úřadující ministr obrany Grant Shapps.

Zdroj:

rbsl.com

www.gov.uk