The next set of trials to prove the British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) are due to begin in the coming weeks, as work continues in the build of four more prototype MBTs.
Providing a brief update on the Armour Main Battle Tank programme, which will deliver Challenger 3, UK Minister for Defence Procurement Maria Eagle said in a parliamentary written response on 23 April that the next stage of trials would start “in Quarter 2 2025”.
Eagle stated that trials had “already proven” the Challenger 3’s “basic firing capability, mechanical design, and structural strength”.
During the first stage of trials, four prototype Challenger 3 MBTs were produced to undergo early testing, including firing trials which took place in Germany.
The main new feature of the Challenger 3 is the incorporation of Rheinmetall’s L55A1 120mm smoothbore gun, mounted in a new turret, along with improved sensors, armour, and installation of the Trophy active protection system.
It is possible that among trials for the next stage in Challenger 3 process could begin to qualify the under development Enhanced Kinetic Energy (EKE) ammunition, a high-density Tungsten penetrator which offers a 5km engagement range.
Development of EKE was required by the UK as the German L55A1 gun is not able to fire the British Army’s depleted uranium (DU) shells fired by the rifled L30A1 gun, which provide a vastly improved anti-armour performance over ‘conventional’ munitions.
According to a UK Parliament note from 2001 on the use of DU in tank ammunition, the rounds have a 10-20% greater penetration than Tungsten and considered at the time to be easier to manufacture than Tungsten alloy.
Will the British Army get 148 Challenger 3 MBTs?
Since the start of the Challenger 3 programme in 2021 to convert 148 Challenger 2 MBTs to the new standard, the emergence of drone threats as witnessed in the Ukraine-Russia war is prompting further consideration in how to defend heavy armour from small, agile, threats.
One such method has been the installation of cope cages around the MBT, with the UK recently admitting to the testing the concept. It is not known if cope cages could be later fitted to the Challenger 3 variant.
It is uncertain whether the British Army will receive the planned 148-strong fleet, even with eight of the platforms are being built and delivered as prototype platforms.
In 2023 it was reported by Army Technology that the British Army had just 157 Challenger 2 tanks available for operations, out of a paper fleet of 227 vehicles, due to cannibalisation of platforms for spares.
It will be several years before the British Army is able to field Challenger 3 on operations, with an initial operating capability (IOC), effectively the equipping of a full MBT squadron, not due to be met until 2027 at the earliest.
