British Army debuts lethal new weapon in ‘reside hearth’ manned trials as WW3 fears rise
The Challenger 3 will be at the heart of the Army’s warfighting capability as part of the MOD’s modernisation plans. It has a crew of four, a 120mm smoothbore gun and weighs 66 tonnes
The British Army debuted its deadly new weapon(Image: )
A new British Army tank capable of “taking on any enemy” has undergone its first manned live-fire trials. The Challenger 3 – set to be rolled out by 2030 – boasts a new 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun in line with other Nato allies.
It fires the latest kinetic energy anti-tank rounds and programmable multi-purpose ammunition, including advanced armour-piercing ammo. And it also boasts an all-new turret as well as enhanced armour and a new targetting system.
The new 66 tonne tanker had previously been fired remotely, but a recent crewed test was carried out by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) personnel at an undisclosed MOD training centre.
It will now undergo further trials as it moves towards operational service as the centrepiece of the Army’s modernisation programme amid rising fears of a global warfare.
RBSL managing director Rebecca Richards said: “Firing the vehicle first remotely and then with a crew in the turret reflects the enormous amount of work that has gone into ensuring the design is safe, robust and ready.
“This shows just how far the programme has progressed and marks a proud moment for UK armoured vehicle development.”
The vehicles are being designed and produced by RBSL at its factory in Telford, Shropshire. In total, 148 tanks will be delivered to the British Army, having been converted from Challenger 2s under a contract worth in excess of £800m.
It comes fitted with advanced thermal imagers for both the tank commander and gunner, automatic target tracking, a wide-area search capability and improved driver sighting systems.
The company says these upgrades significantly enhance situational awareness and the speed at which a target can be engaged.
And new electronic threat detection systems give the tank’s crew a faster warning of enemy fire. Ukrainian crews operating the Challenger 2 loved the tank for the most part, but did criticise the engine for being underpowered.
Challenger 3, on the other hand, has an upgraded engine with improved cooling, and an enhanced hydrogas suspension system. Initial Operating Capability is forecast to be in 2027, with all 148 Challenger 3s planned to be in service by the end of 2030.
Defence Procurement Minister Maria Eagle previously said the Challenger 3 will be able to take on any potential enemy, including Russia’s newest main battle tank, the T-14 Armata.
She told Parliament last year: “We are confident that Challenger 3 will continue to match potential threats throughout its lifecycle. But we will continually review the performance of its specification to ensure that it remains world-leading.”
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