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2016-09-08

Challenger 2 Highly sought-after British main battle tank

The FV4034 Challenger 2, a British main battle tank (MBT), is a heavily armoured, highly mobile main battle tank, designed for use in the direct fire zone. Its primary role is to destroy or neutralise armour. However, it has the ability to engage both hard and soft targets and can operate across a spectrum of high intensity conflict, counter insurgency and peace keeping roles.

It is an extensive redesign of the Challenger 1. Although the hull and automotive components seem similar, they are of a newer design and build than those of the Challenger 1 and only five percent of Challenger 2 components are interchangeable with its predecessor, which has had more than 150 major modifications including a completely new turret, L30 CHARM 120mm gun and second generation Chobham armour.

The Challenger 2E, the latest development model, has been designed for the export market and is suitable for harsh environmental and climactic conditions. It has been extensively trialled in Greece, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The vehicle is equipped with an L30 120mm rifled tank gun, firing both long rod penetrator and High Explosive Squash Head (HESH) ammunition natures. Secondary armaments are provided with a 7.62mm co-axial chain gun and a 7.62mm pintle mounted General Purpose Machine Gun.

Optical and thermal imager sights are provided for both the Commander and Gunner, including an independent 360 degree panoramic sight for the Commander. The sighting systems, turret and gun are fully stabilised enabling rapid target engagement when static and on the move.

Mobility is provided through a 12-cylinder, 1,200hp Perkins CV12 diesel engine with a David Brown TN54 gearbox, providing six forward and two reverse gears. A double pin track with Hydrogas suspension and a Hydraulic Track Tensioner provide platform stability covering flat road surfaces through to rough cross country terrain.

Challenger 2 has successfully supported British Army operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq, as part of which, various survivability, lethality and situational awareness improvements were incorporated under Urgent Operational Requirement projects.

The Challenger 2 improvements

Challenger 2 armament

Challenger 2 is equipped with an L30, 120mm rifled tank gun from BAE Systems Land Systems (formerly RO Defence). In January 2004, Land Systems was awarded a contract to develop a new smoothbore 120mm gun for the British Army Challenger tanks. Under the contract, a Challenger 2 has been armed with the Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun, as fitted on the Leopard 2A6 tank, and began firing trials in January 2006.

The L30 gun is made from electro-slag refined steel (ESR) and is insulated with a thermal sleeve. It is fitted with a muzzle reference system and fume extraction. The turret is capable of 360° rotation and the weapon elevation range is from -10° to +20°.

There is capacity for 50 120mm projectiles, including armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high-explosive squash head (HESH) or smoke rounds. The L30 gun can also fire the depleted uranium (DU) round with a stick charge propellant. With the DU round, the L30 is part of the Charm 3 gun, charge and projectile system.

The gun control is provided by an all-electric gun control and stabilisation system from BAE Systems. Challenger 2 is also equipped with a Boeing 7.62mm chain gun, which is located to the left of the main tank gun. The loader has a 7.62mm GPMG L37A2 anti-air machine gun, mounted on the cupola.

Self-protection

The turret is protected with second generation Chobham armour. A nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system is located in the turret bustle. On each side of the turret are five L8 smoke grenade dischargers, from Thales AFV Systems Ltd (formerly Helio Mirror Company). Challenger 2 can also set a smoke screen by the injection of diesel fuel into the engine exhausts.

Fire control and observation

The digital fire control computer is produced by Computing Devices Company (now General Dynamics – Canada). General Dynamics UK is supplying the platform battlefield information system application (PBISA) for the British Army Challenger 2 tanks. PBISA integrates the commander’s display, inertial navigation system, digitisation processing computer and driver’s display panel. Land Systems is responsible for system integration and some of the software. PBISA entered service in December 2005.

British Army Challenger 2 tanks are being fitted with the Bowman tactical, digital communications system. Prime contractor for Bowman is General Dynamics UK. Bowman provides secure voice and data communications and automatic location of units. Challenger tanks fitted with the system were deployed to Iraq in early 2006.

The commander has a panoramic VS 580-10 gyrostabilised sight from SAGEM (formerly SFIM Industries).

A laser rangefinder is incorporated into an intermediate assembly. Elevation range is +35° to -35°. The commander’s station is equipped with eight periscopes which provide 360° vision.

Propulsion

The Challenger 2 has a 12-cylinder, 1,200hp Perkins Caterpillar CV12 diesel engine and a David Brown TN54 gearbox, with six forward and two reverse gears. Second-generation Hydrogas suspension and hydraulic track tensioner are fitted. The maximum speed by road is 59km/h and 40km/h cross country. The range is given as 450km by road and 250km cross country.

Challenger 2E

Challenger 2E, an export version of the Challenger 2 tank, has a new integrated weapon control and battlefield management system, which includes a gyrostabilised panoramic SAGEM MVS 580 day / thermal sight for the commander and SAGEM SAVAN 15 gyrostabilised day / thermal sight for the gunner, both with eyesafe laser rangefinder. This allows hunter / killer operations with a common engagement sequence. An optional servo-controlled overhead weapons platform can be slaved to the commander’s sight to allow operation independent from the turret.

Armoured vehicle support transformation (AVST) programme

In September 2009, the UK MoD Investment Approvals Board gave the go-ahead to BAE Systems to frame a scheme for the Challenger tank fleet that would reduce costs by over 10 percent. The scheme also extends to other armoured vehicle fleets in service with the British Army under the armoured vehicle support transformation (AVST) programme. The key objective of the scheme is to provide improved availability of spare parts and technical support to the UK MoD’s fleet of armoured vehicles.

A fleet of Titan and Trojan engineer tanks, a CRARRV recovery vehicle, a Challenger main battle tank and the driver training tank are covered under the contract.

Gaining international attention

The FV4034 Challenger 2 was designed and built by the British company BAE Systems Land & Armaments, formerly known as Vickers Defence Systems.

Vickers Defence Systems began to develop a successor to Challenger 1 as a private venture in 1986. A £90 million deal for a demonstrator vehicle was finalised in January 1989.

In June 1991, the Ministry of Defence placed a £520 million order for 140 vehicles, with a further 268 ordered in 1994. Production began in 1993 and the unit’s tanks were delivered in July 1994, replacing the Challenger 1. The tank entered service with the British Army in 1998, with the last delivered in 2002. It is expected to remain in service until 2035.

The Royal Army of Oman ordered 18 Challenger 2s in 1993 and a further 20 tanks in November 1997. Deliveries for Oman were completed in 2001.

Challenger 2 has seen operational service in Bosnia and Kosovo. British Army Challenger 2 tanks were deployed on active service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Upgrade programmes

Lockheed Martin UK and Rheinmetall are to bid for the Ministry of Defence’s contract to upgrade the British Army’s Challenger 2 tanks.

In collaboration with Elbit Systems UK, Lockheed Martin UK will submit a proposal to undertake the Life Extension Project (LEP) that will see the main battle tanks in service until 2035. Rheinmetall too has submitted a comprehensive offer to extend the life and substantially upgrade the capabilities of the British Army fleet of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) in response to the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP) Request for Tender.

Lockheed Martin UK is the prime contractor for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme, which is upgrading a minimum of 380 armoured fighting vehicles for the Army. The company is also designing and delivering 245 turrets for the AJAX vehicles that are being produced by GD UK.

The team brings together Lockheed Martin’s experience in armoured fighting vehicles with Elbit System’s proven expertise and experience in LEPs and obsolescence management across more than 3,000 platforms.

Rheinmetall provides a wide range of cutting edge systems that are integrated in tank fleets around the world and is currently actively engaged in the upgrade and delivery of Leopard 2 MBTs for two major international customers. Through continual investment in research and development Rheinmetall has remained at the cutting edge of tank technology.

Ben Hudson, Head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems Division, said “Our team has put together an innovative proposal to solve not only the obsolescence issues of the Challenger 2 but to also cost effectively enhance the capabilities of the MBT.

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