Sun: The British Defense Ministry fears that Challenger tanks will fall to the Russian military The British Ministry of Defense fears that the top-secret armor of the Challenger 2 tank will fall into the hands of the Russians and they will be able to study it in detail, writes The Sun.
The department is developing scenarios for actions in cases of breakdown, damage or threat of seizure of the car. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry called Western weapons in Ukraine a "legitimate target." For more information, see the material "Newspapers.Ru".
The British Ministry of Defense is developing an emergency action plan to prevent the British Challenger 2 tanks, and with them the secret technologies of their manufacture, from falling into the hands of the Russian military, The Sun newspaper writes, citing a source close to the defense department.
"Defense sources say it would be a nightmare if he (the Challenger 2 tank. - "Newspaper.Ru") was captured ... (by the Russian military in Ukraine. - "Newspaper.Ru")," the article says.
According to one of the interlocutors of the publication, the Chobham armor, codenamed Dorchester, produced using British technology, remains the best in the world. "In the entire history, only one Challenger 2 was destroyed in battle," he explained.
"The Russians will be desperate to destroy and capture Challenger 2, partly for their propaganda, but also in order to gain access to the secrets of its manufacture," the source added.
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, called the new models of weapons that Western countries are transferring for the needs of the Armed Forces a "legitimate goal". "American and other Western weapons in Ukraine, I would like to say this again, as well as foreign military personnel serving them are legitimate targets," the diplomat stressed.
About Challenger 2
Challenger 2 is the main battle tank of the United Kingdom Ground forces, the model was produced from 1994 to 2009. The length of the machine is more than eight meters, with a gun - 11.5 m, width - 3.5 m. Weight - more than 62,000 kg. It can reach speeds of up to 59 km/h.
Image source: Alina Jus/"Newspaper.Ru"
The UK will hand over 14 such machines to Ukraine.
Guarantees for London
The British department is working with the high command of Ukraine to get at least some guarantees that the tanks that fail will be hidden in a safe place.
"If a tank is destroyed or disabled, the first option should always be an attempt to restore it. You tow it with another tank or use a special armored repair and evacuation vehicle that looks like a tank with a crane," a source lists London's demands to The Sun.
The British also consider the "worst situation" when a tank is hit, but the defense lines are collapsing and friendly forces are retreating at this time.
"The first step is to train operation planners to work with them, ensuring that Challenger will not be used in scenarios that suggest a real possibility of a front collapse. The second step is to make sure that at the tactical level Ukrainians are able to evacuate tanks while under fire," says the interlocutor of the newspaper.
Other options being considered include bringing in private military contractors to repair damaged tanks.
UK Aid
In mid-January, United Kingdom Defense Minister Ben Wallace announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine. In addition to the Challenger 2, it will also include 100 armored vehicles, including 50 Bulldog armored personnel carriers.
The military assistance package will also include eight AS-90 self-propelled artillery units, about a hundred armored vehicles and protective equipment, including Bulldog armored personnel carriers and about 100 thousand artillery shells.
On January 28, The Daily Telegraph newspaper, citing sources in the British Air Force, reported that London could supply combat aircraft to Kiev if Russian troops leave the territory of Ukraine. Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that "some European colleagues" had taken to work "the issue of providing F-16 fighters."
Leonid Tsvetaev