Key Points and Summary – The UK is upgrading 148 Challenger 2 tanks into the new, more lethal Challenger 3 variant, which features a new turret and a NATO-standard 120mm smoothbore gun.
-While this $1.17 billion program is a significant modernization, the core problem is that 148 tanks are not nearly enough.
The Challenger 3 Main Battle tank. The latest edition to the Armoured family of the British Army. Displayed during PROJECT HERMOD 2
The tank remains the most effective way of destroying enemy armour. It is at the heart of high intensity warfighting and therefore a vital part of an integrated defence system.
The British Army is announcing a huge upgrade programme which will result in the creation of the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank.
Challenger 3 will be the most lethal tank in NATO. The rifled barrel of Challenger 2 will be replaced by a 120mm smoothbore gun, making use of the most advanced ammunition available globally.
PROJECT HERMOD 2 is an event run for members of the intelligence and security committee and the House of Commons defence committee. It will showcase the Army Special Operations (rangers), UK stratcom, innovation, and digitisation.
-This small number reflects a “hollowed out” British Army, which reportedly has few operational tanks left.
-The planned Challenger 3 fleet is too small to field a credible armored division, hampering the UK’s ability to act as a serious military power within NATO and forcing it to look at future multinational tank programs.
The UK Needs More Than 148 Challenger 3 Tanks
The Challenger 3, Britain’s fourth-generation main battle tank, has taken the existing Challenger 2 tanks and improved them in a joint venture by British/German Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land.
The British recognized flaws in the existing Challenger 2 main battle tanks and committed to improving them as early as 2005. The “Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme” (LEP) was intended to keep the Challenger relevant into the 2030s.
BAE submitted a design in 2018, and Rheinmetall followed suit in 2019. The projects were merged, and the joint venture resulted in an entirely new design: the Challenger 3, a superior tank rather than an updated Challenger 2.
Challenger 2 Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Challenger 3 MBT represents a significant modernization for the British Army, featuring upgrades that include a new turret, a 120mm smoothbore gun, and enhanced protection.
The UK plans to have the Challenger 3 to full operational capability by 2030 at a per-unit cost of roughly $7.9 million.
However, the planned 148 tanks are not sufficient. This number is too low, potentially impacting the UK’s ability to deploy an entire armored division or sustain operations in a large-scale conflict.
The British Army Is Woefully Short of Tanks
The British Army invented the tank, and today, its only Armored Division has just a skeleton force of operational tanks.
How did this happen? The British Army is so hollowed out that many in NATO now doubt that they could effectively join in if the alliance ever goes to war with Russia.
It has been widely reported that Britain currently has only 20 to 25 operational Challenger 2 tanks, and its self-propelled artillery, the AS90 howitzers, have been given to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently stated that Britain could participate in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, a proposal that has been dismissed as unrealistic.
Are the Upgrades Ultimately Cheaper?
The total cost of the Challenger 3 program is estimated at approximately $1.17 billion. This figure includes research and development, testing, infrastructure improvements, and physical upgrades of the 148 tanks.
Challenger 3 Tank Image from British Army.
On a per-unit basis, this translates to roughly $7.9 million per tank when compared to the cost of new main battle tanks, such as the Leopard 2A7+ at approximately $11 million or the U.S. M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams at around $12 million. The Challenger 3 promises to offer high-end capability at a relatively moderate cost.
New 120mm Smoothbore Gun
The Challenger 3 upgrades address the obsolescence of the Challenger 2, bringing the British Army’s armored capabilities up to par with those of its peer competitors.
The 120mm smoothbore gun ensures compatibility with NATO standard ammunition, improving logistics and interoperability. The tank replaces the Challenger 2’s 120mm rifled gun with the 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun, the same used in the German Leopard 2A7.
This change brings the UK into line with NATO standards, allowing for the shared use of ammunition and logistics with allied forces. The new gun is paired with advanced kinetic energy rounds developed in collaboration with Rheinmetall, enhancing the tank’s lethality against modern armored threats.
Modular Armor System
The Challenger 3 features a new modular armor system. This includes external armor known as “EPSOM” and internal armor referred to as “Farnham,” both designed to provide superior protection against threats, including kinetic energy penetrators and improvised explosive devices.
Challenger 3 Tank British Army Image.
The tank will be equipped with an active protection system (APS), although specifics remain classified. This system would allow the tank to detect and intercept incoming projectiles.
With a new transmission and suspension, the Challenger 3 will provide troops with increased mobility and a smoother ride, thereby enhancing its tactical capabilities.
The UK Aims To Shorten Delivery Time For Challenger 3s
The UK Ministry of Defence is taking steps to accelerate the delivery of Challenger 3 main battle tanks.
Maria Eagle MP (Minister of Parliament) was recently asked about what is being done to speed up deliveries of the Challenger 3 tank.
“We are engaged with the supply chain and additional resources have been directed towards ensuring the materials required for Challenger 3 main battle tanks are available to meet the delivery timescales,” she said.
Currently, four prototype tanks have been built and are undergoing testing. Four more are in production. Initial operational capability (IOC) is anticipated in 2027 and full operational capability (FOC) by 2030.
The Challenger 3 is a technologically advanced tank that will significantly improve the British Army’s armored capabilities.
However, an Armored Division should number between 170 and 300 tanks and between 110 and 220 artillery pieces. British commanders trying to plan operations are hamstrung due to the shortage of tanks.
The Challenger 3 will be the best tank to ever serve in the British Army. But it is more of a stopgap than a true game-changer. Again, the force has been hollowed out, and there aren’t easy answers.
One promising possibility is the Marine Armored Tank of Europe (MARTE) initiative, led by Germany and supported by ten EU member states and Norway. MARTE aims to bridge the gap between Leopard 2 and France and Germany’s Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) with a new 130 mm-armed, 60–65 ton tank featuring a remote turret and a three-person crew housed in the hull.
The UK could consider joining MARTE. British firms could contribute to protection systems, optics, powertrains, and suspension, potentially securing both industrial participation and domestic manufacturing.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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