Key Points – The UK’s donation of 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine has yielded mixed results, showcasing the platform’s strengths and weaknesses in modern warfare.
-Ukrainian crews have praised the tank’s exceptional accuracy, calling its 120mm rifled gun a “sniper rifle,” and its robust Dorchester 2 armor has proven effective in ensuring crew survivability.
-However, the tank’s 64-ton weight and 1,200-horsepower engine have led to mobility issues in Ukraine’s muddy terrain.
-The small number of tanks deployed, with at least two confirmed destroyed, has limited their overall strategic impact, highlighting the challenges of integrating small fleets of complex Western hardware.
Challenger 2 Tank Goes to Ukraine
In 2022, the UK announced that it intended to supply Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 tanks. This announcement. underscored the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and set a precedent for other NATO countries to follow.
Ukrainian crews underwent training in the UK before the tanks were deployed to the front lines, ensuring they could operate the vehicles effectively in combat situations. Prior to 2023, The UK MoD boasted that no Challenger 2s had ever been lost to enemy fire. The Russians put a firm end to this streak.
London’s Strongest Tank
The Challenger 2 was developed by Vickers Defence Systems, now part of BAE Systems, and entered service with the British Army in 1998. It was designed to replace the Challenger 1 and address several of its limitations, particularly in terms of firepower, protection, and reliability.
The tank is armed with the L30A1 120mm rifled gun, which sets it apart from other NATO tanks that typically use smoothbore guns. This rifled gun provides exceptional accuracy and long-range engagement capabilities, with a record shot of 4.7 kilometers achieved during operations in Iraq.
The Challenger 2 is also renowned for its Dorchester 2 composite armor, one of the most advanced passive armor systems in the world, offering superior protection against both kinetic and chemical energy threats.
It is powered by a Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel engine that produces 1,200 horsepower, giving it a top speed of approximately 59 kilometers per hour on roads. However, its weight of 64 tons limits its agility compared to other Western tanks like the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams, which are equipped with more powerful engines.
To the Battlefields of Ukraine
The Challenger 2 saw its first action in the ill-fated 2023 Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive. The Challenger 2 operated alongside the German Leopard 2 in an operation that was intended to liberate Crimea. Unfortunately, the offensive did not make it far past Russia’s first line of defense.
The Challenger 2 was reported near the front lines ,where its Ukrainian operators compared it to a sniper rifle, praising its performance and survivability. Less than a week later, the first footage arrived of a destroyed Challenger 2, its turret removed from its hinges. Following this footage, the British MoD requested that the Challenger 2 be pulled from the front lines.
The Challenger 2 returned to participate in the Ukraine’s Kursk offensive, another ill-fated operation. While the Ukrainians were able gain and hold a small bridgehead in Sudzha, in Spring 2025, the Russians were finally able to force the Ukrainians to flee back behind the Ukrainian border, with little accomplished to drive Russia out of its other regions. Here, the Challenger 2 performed slightly better, with footage of the tank engaging Russian vehicles and winning. However, multiple tanks were damaged or destroyed during this operation, either by FPV drones or ATGMs.
The Challenger 2’s Strengths
In terms of battlefield performance, the Challenger 2 has demonstrated several notable strengths. Ukrainian tank crews have consistently praised the tank’s rifled gun for its precision, often referring to it as a “sniper gun.” This level of accuracy allows for effective engagement of targets at distances up to 4.5 kilometers, significantly outperforming its older Soviet-era tanks. The tank’s fire control system enables rapid target acquisition and engagement, with some crews noting the ability to store and switch between multiple targets with ease.
Another major advantage of the Challenger 2 is its survivability. The Dorchester 2 armor has proven effective in ensuring crew survivability even when the tank is hit. Ukrainian operators have highlighted the tank’s ability to withstand hits that would disable or destroy other vehicles.
This resilience is particularly valuable in the current combat environment, where the widespread use of drones and loitering munitions poses a constant threat to armored vehicles. Additionally, the Challenger 2 offers superior internal space and crew comfort compared to Soviet-designed tanks, which contributes to reduced fatigue and improved operational efficiency during extended missions.
Assessing the Tank’s Weaknesses
However, its performances in Ukraine highlight some of the tank’s weaknesses as well.
One of the most frequently cited issues is its limited mobility. The 1,200-horsepower engine struggles to move the 64-ton vehicle effectively across Ukraine’s muddy terrain. Ukrainian crews have reported the tank becoming stuck in soft ground, particularly during the muddy spring season.
This limitation reduces the tank’s tactical flexibility and increases its vulnerability in certain environments. Additionally, like all Western tanks, the Challenger 2 is easy to spot and identify, making it an easy target from Russian drones.
Furthermore, another significant limitation is the small number of Challenger 2 tanks delivered. With only 14 units in service, their overall impact on the conflict has been limited. While they have proven effective in specific engagements, they are not numerous enough to shift the balance of power on their own. Their limited numbers also complicate logistics, maintenance, and the supply of spare parts. As a complex Western system, the Challenger 2 requires specialized maintenance and components that are not readily available in Ukraine, raising concerns about long-term sustainability in high-intensity operations.
Not Enough to Make a Difference
Of the 14 Challenger 2s sent to Ukraine, two have been confirmed destroyed, while footage exists of at least three other tanks being hit by drones. While the damage to these other tanks is unknown, it is possible that Ukraine has fewer than 10 Challenger 2s in operational condition.
Unfortunately, it is unlikely that Ukraine will be receiving more Challenger 2s anytime soon. The UK operates only 200 tanks, which it needs to maintain its own security.
This highlights one of my biggest issues with the Challenger 2, and by extension, the Challenger 3. While the Challenger is a good tank, its small numbers will limit its operational impact in the long run.
While Russia’s tanks may be less survivable overall, their greater production means that Russia can more easily replace its losses and field more tanks at a lower cost, allowing it to sustain its war effort over longer periods of time.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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