Challenger 2 (FV4034)

The Challenger 2 represents the British answer to next generation main battle tank technology. The formidable system combines crew survivability, firepower and performance into a complete system worthy of attention by any enemy combatants. The system has proven successful in limited affairs since introduction in 1998 and will represent the bulk of British armored formations for years to come.

The Challenger 2 was designed to replace the aging Chieftain series of main battle tanks (detailed elsewhere on this site). It is also a further development of the Challenger 1 system to which it shared only a similar outward appearance to it's predecessor. The Challenger 1 system saw successes in the Persian Gulf War of the early 1990's though the system was far from a perfect vehicle for British warplanner's tastes. Beyond visual comparisons to the Challenger 1, the Challenger 2 actually ends up being more of an entirely new design with the amount of technology developments poured into this new and highly capable system.

The Challenger 2 is built around the lethal L30 rifled main gun. Combined with an integrated fire control system, stabilization and specialized sights, the Challenger 2 offers up excellent first-hit capabilities. In terms of protection for the four man crew, the Challenger 2 is fielded with advanced armor which has proven in trials to be most effective against modern anti-armor projectiles. Additionally, all any explosive material is held in armored "baskets" under the turret's profile base. Full crew survival systems are also in place.

Along with the 120mm main gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a turret-mounted air defense 7.62mm machine gun are also offered in addition to ten smoke grenades in clusters of five on each side of the turret. Optional fuel tanks can be added to the rear of the hull to help increase the 450 kilometer range of the Challenger 2. The chassis is also adaptable to fulfill other roles including a battlefield engineering vehicle (a dozer blade can be fitted to the front of the hull), a bridgelayer and the dedicated driving trainer (sans turret).

As of this writing, Oman is the only other operator of the Challenger 2 system which will result / has resulted in some 38 total examples with improved cooling systems for desert warfare. The British Army fields some 386 examples which have seen exposure in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. The Challenger 2 was conceived of as a private venture project by Alvis Vickers Ltd, formerly Vickers Defense Systems and now BAe Systems Land Systems, all in the UK.

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Last Updated: 5/4/2009