Land systems
Full operating capability is not expected to be achieved until 2030.
These are distinct from programme timelines, which chart the course of the platform from concept through to service, and is intended to provide insight into the perspectives of multiple UK governments on Challenger 3 since 2021: 26 April 2021 – As announced in the Integrated Review, the Ministry of Defence will invest £1.3bn in armoured capability by upgrading 148 main battle tanks. To date, £73.3m has been spent on the programme (£7.4m on concept and £65.9m on assessment). The programme is currently at the beginning of the demonstration phase and no training, ammunition or infrastructure costs have yet been incurred. 27 April 2022 – Challenger 3 is scheduled to enter service in 2027. The next major milestone is the Critical Design Review in late 2022. 18 May 2022 – Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) was awarded the Challenger 2 (CR2) upgrade contract based on its timelines to conduct the demonstration and manufacture phases for the Challenger 3 (CR3). The initial production vehicles are expected to be delivered in 2027 with all vehicles delivered by 2030. 17 October 2022 – For the Challenger 3 programme, initial operating capability (IOC) is defined as a single squadron of main battle tanks equipped with trained crews. IOC is expected to be achieved in 2027; however, work is ongoing to scope options to bring this forward. Full operating capability (FOC) is expected in 2030. 18 January 2023 – The Challenger 3 prototypes will be delivered through 2023 and 2024 for use in demonstration trials. Once the design has been proved it is currently planned that the Challenger 3 tanks will be delivered to the army from 2027, with full operating capability
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delivered by 2030. The number of tanks to be delivered is under review. 20 January 2023 – The current Hydrogas suspension units will be replaced with the latest ‘3rd Generation’ Hydrogas system. The transmission that will be fitted to CR3 remains largely unchanged from that fitted to CR2. It will continue with its iterative modification programme to address obsolescence and improve reliability. 3 March 2023 – The Ministry of Defence has allocated sufficient funding for the integration of an active protection system onto the Challenger 3 main battle tank. 8 March 2023 – Funding for the integration of an active protection system onto the Challenger 3 main battle tank was provisioned alongside the approval of the full business case in March 2021. It would be inappropriate to confirm the amount of funding allocated while commercial negotiations with the supplier are ongoing. 11 September 2023 – Having successfully completed its critical design review in January 2023, in line with the contract, Challenger 3 prototype vehicles are now in build at RBSL, Telford, ahead of physical trials starting in 2024. DE&S is actively monitoring progress and supporting RBSL’s wider business development as part of a collaborative drive for success on this vital army programme. 15 November 2023 – The field army has calculated that the average age of the Challenger 2 main battle tank is 23 years and ten months old. 26 February 2024 – The UK has the necessary facilities to undertake Challenger 3 trials and most of the trial activity will take place in the
Defence & Security Systems International /
www.defence-and-security.com
Martin Hibberd/
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