Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) has presented a demonstration sample of the modified Challenger 3 tank at the DSEI-2021 defense exhibition in Britain. The tank received an updated fire control system, improved security and mobility, according to Defense Blog.
The developer claims that the Challenger 3 will become the most combat-ready tank in NATO. The demonstration sample received elements of the Trophy active protection complex, which complement the passive protection of the tank.
The standard gun has given way to the L55A1 smoothbore gun, which allows the use of modern DM53 and DM11 ammunition with air detonation. In turn, the Challenger 3 fire control system includes new thermal imaging sights. The weight of the updated machine is about 66 tons.
In May, RBSL signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defense to upgrade 148 Challenger 2 tanks to the Challenger 3 level.
The British Challenger 2 tank has been in operation since 1995. Over 14 years of production, more than 400 cars were produced. The main weapon of the base model was the L30E4 rifled gun, and the combined Dorchester armor provided the protection of the machine. Challenger 2 was used during the fighting in Iraq and Kosovo.
Earlier it became known about the tests of the Russian self-propelled anti-tank gun "Sprut-SDM1" for dumping. The airborne vehicle was dropped from the tower to check the strength of the structure.
Daniil Irinin
