Editing Challenger 2 (section)

== History ==
===Challenger 1===
The Challenger 2 is the third vehicle of this name, the first being the [[Cruiser Mk VIII Challenger|A30 Challenger]], a [[World War II]] design using the [[Cromwell tank]] chassis with a [[Ordnance QF 17 pounder|17-pounder]] gun. The second was the Persian [[Gulf War]] era [[Challenger 1]], which was the British army's main battle tank (MBT) from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

While the British [[Chieftain (tank)|Chieftain]] was heavily armed and armoured, its engine and suspension were considerably subpar compared to its contemporaries, leading to poor cross-country performance and a lack of maneuverability.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Some work on further development of the Chieftain had been ongoing since 1968 at the [[Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment]] (MVEE), and several experimental vehicles produced, including one with the recently developed [[Chobham armour]]. In September 1978, it was announced that these concepts would be brought together in a new design, [[MBT-80]]. Deliveries of the MBT-80 were not expected until the mid-1980s at a minimum. Advances in Soviet armor, especially the apparent upcoming introduction of the [[T-80]], suggested that the UK's tanks would be at a significant disadvantage before the MBT-80 would arrive. After considerable debate, MBT-80 was cancelled.{{cn|date=August 2024}}{{why|date=August 2024}} Instead, in 1978, the British Army ordered the Challenger 1, based on the [[Shir 2]]. The final Challenger 1 was delivered to the British Army in 1990.{{sfn|Foss|2011|p=165}}

===Challenger 2 contest===
As Challenger production ramped up the government was interested in marketing it to its traditional customers like [[Jordan]]. To improve its sales prospects, the tank was entered in the 1987 running of the [[Canadian Army Trophy]] for tank performance, which had historically been won many times by [[British Army]] or [[Canadian Army]] units in British tanks. In this run, however, the Challenger performed very poorly, with its units ending up at the bottom of the rankings. While this performance was dismissed by the Ministry of Defense, including in comments in the [[House of Commons]], it was a serious blow to its sales prospects. It also proved only marginally more reliable than the Chieftain, which was considered unreliable and a maintenance problem in the field, and the lack of significant improvement was much to the annoyance of the [[British Army]].<ref name=wrong/>

Vickers began considering improvements under the Improved Challenger name in November 1986. They presented their work to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) in March 1987. In February 1988, the MoD issued Staff Requirement 4026, or the Chieftain Replacement Programme, which called for a new design to replace those Chieftains still in service. This program compared the American Abrams (as the XM1 was now known), French [[Leclerc tank|Leclerc]] and German [[Leopard 2]], as well as Vickers' Improved Challenger. Initial studies by the [[British Army]] invariably selected the Leopard 2, which was protected as well as Challenger but had much better mobility and used the smoothbore 120&nbsp;mm gun that would give it commonality with other [[NATO]] forces. The second choice was the Abrams, in second due largely to concerns with its fuel use.<ref name=wrong>{{cite web |url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/challenger-2-the-wrong-tank-for-the-british-army/ |title=Challenger 2, the wrong tank for the British Army? |first=Stuart |last=Crawford |date=23 August 2018}}</ref>

After some supportive lobbying by [[David Young, Baron Young of Graffham|Baron Young]], the [[Third Thatcher ministry|Thatcher government]] chose to proceed with the Vickers entry in December 1988, giving it the official name Challenger 2.<ref name="Abrams evaluation">{{cite news |last=Lohr |first=Steve |date=20 December 1988 |title=Thatcher Picks British Tank Over Rival American Model |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/21/business/thatcher-picks-british-tank-over-rival-american-model.html |access-date=26 August 2018 |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826080812/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/21/business/thatcher-picks-british-tank-over-rival-american-model.html |archive-date=26 August 2018}}</ref>

===Prototypes===
Vickers received a £90&nbsp;million contract for a demonstrator vehicle to be delivered by September 1990. Part of this proof-of-concept phase was the demonstration that a [[depleted uranium]] projectile and more powerful gunpowder charge could be developed for the updated "CHARM" 120&nbsp;mm gun developed at Royal Ordinance, which would give it capability against the latest Soviet designs.<ref name="Simon Dunstan page 5">{{cite book |last1=Dunstan |first1=Simon |last2=Bryan |first2=Tony |title=Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank 1987–2006 |page=5}}</ref><ref name="Abrams evaluation"/> The demonstration phase had three milestones for progress, with dates of September 1989, March 1990, and September 1990. At the last of these milestones, Vickers was to have met 11 key criteria for the tank's design.<ref name="Simon Dunstan page 5"/>

The demonstration phase was generally successful; the major design was completed by August 1989, and production of a series of nine prototypes began. These were largely complete August 1990, and the program as a whole considered successfully completed on time in September. By this point, the [[Gulf War]] had started and Challenger 1 was sent to [[Iraq]], where it performed far better than its initial showing would suggest, including performing several very long range kills against Iraqi armor, including one at over {{convert|5|km}} range. This performance bolstered the MoD's confidence in British armour.<ref name="leclerc"/>

===Production and delivery===
In June 1991 the decision to buy Challenger 2 was made formal with a £520&nbsp;million contract for 127 tanks and 13 driver training tanks.<ref name="leclerc">{{cite news |title=Company News; Britain Selects Tank Produced By Vickers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/22/business/company-news-britain-selects-tank-produced-by-vickers.html |access-date=11 November 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Reuters |date=22 June 1991}}</ref> Production began in 1993 at two primary sites, [[Elswick, Tyne and Wear]] and [[Barnbow]], [[Leeds]], with over 250 subcontractors involved. It was formally accepted on 16 May 1994 with the first tanks delivered in July 1994. An order for a further 259 tanks and 9 driver trainers worth £800&nbsp;million was placed in July. The Challenger 2 failed its acceptance trials in 1994, and it was forced into the Progressive Reliability Growth Trial in 1995. Three vehicles were tested for 285 simulated battlefield days.

Due to downsizing of the Army after the end of the [[Cold War]], the two runs of Challenger 2 would result in enough tanks to arm the entire Army, as opposed to the mixture of Challenger 1 and 2 that was formerly planned. This made the Challenger 1 surplus, and these were eventually shipped to Jordan for free. Vickers struggled to market the tank for export.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gow |first=David |title=Vickers and French form tank alliance |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260071674/?terms=leclerc%20challenger%202&match=1 |access-date=11 November 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=12 January 1999}}</ref> Its one success led to Oman ordering 38 Challenger 2s; 18 in June 1993<ref name="Oman 1993">{{cite news |last1=Beavis |first1=Simon |title=Oman orders Vickers Tank |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/260345870/?terms=challenger%202%20oman&match=1 |access-date=11 November 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=23 June 1993}}</ref> and a further 20 in November 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Michael |last2=Godsmark |first2=Chris |date=1997-11-10 |title=Car makers in the frame fo battle for the control of Rolls-Royce |url=https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=The Independent |publisher=newspapers.com |page=18}}</ref> Both batches ordered by Oman contain notable differences from the UK version: a larger cooling group and rear [[towing eyes]], running gear and bazooka plates similar to Challenger 1, and a loader's [[M2 Browning|Browning 0.5 Calibre M2 Heavy Machine Gun]]. Deliveries of Challenger 2 to Oman were completed in 2001.

[[File:Challenger2-Bergen-Hohne-Training-Area-2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|A Challenger 2 Tank of the [[Royal Scots Dragoon Guards]] (Squadron D) during live fire training exercises on [[Bergen-Hohne Training Area]] (Germany)]]
The tank was then accepted into service in 1998. An equally important milestone was the In-Service Reliability Demonstration (ISRD) in 1998. The CR2 In-Service Reliability Demonstration (ISRD) milestone was successfully achieved in January 1999. The ISRD took place from September to December 1998. Twelve fully crewed tanks were tested at the [[Bovington]] test tracks and the [[Lulworth]] Bindon ranges. The tank exceeded all staff requirements.

===Later developments and possible replacement===
The Challenger 2 entered service with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, with the last delivered in 2002. After the [[Army 2020]] restructuring, only three Challenger 2 Tank Regiments will remain: the [[Queen's Royal Hussars]], the King's Royal Hussars and the [[Royal Tank Regiment]], each of which is the tank regiment of an Armoured Infantry Brigade. A single [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] regiment, [[The Royal Wessex Yeomanry]], will provide reservist Challenger crews to the regular regiments.

The Trojan minefield breaching vehicle and the Titan bridge-laying vehicle based on the chassis of the Challenger 2 were shown in November 2006. Sixty-six are to be supplied by BAE Systems to the [[Royal Engineers]], at a cost of £250&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.armedforces.co.uk/projects/raq3f54d8aee2e57 Trojan and Titan Armoured Engineer Vehicles] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002301/http://www.armedforces.co.uk/projects/raq3f54d8aee2e57 |date=4 March 2016}} armedforces.co.uk</ref>

A British military document from 2001 indicated that the British Army would not procure a replacement for the Challenger 2 because of a lack of foreseeable conventional threats in the future.<ref name="Challenger 2 last">{{cite book |title=Gender, War, and Militarism: Feminist Perspectives |year=2010 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-39143-9 |page=40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=om3yy1JoS34C&q=%22Main+battle+tank%22 |author1=Laura Sjoberg |author2=Sandra Via |author3=Cynthia Enloe |access-date=3 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101183946/http://books.google.com/books?id=om3yy1JoS34C&vq=isbn&dq=%22Main+battle+tank%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s |archive-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[IHS Jane's 360]] reported in September 2015 that following discussions with senior Army officers and procurement officials at DSEI 2015 and the head of the British Army, [[Nick Carter (British Army officer)|General Sir Nick Carter]], that the British Army was looking at either upgrading the Challenger 2 or outright replacing it. Sources confirmed that the future of the MBT was being considered at the highest levels of the Army.<ref name="janes">{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/54672/dsei-2015-british-army-considers-new-mbt-in-response-to-russia-s-armata |title=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news |access-date=21 September 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501233926/http://www.janes.com/article/54672/dsei-2015-british-army-considers-new-mbt-in-response-to-russia-s-armata |archive-date=1 May 2016}}</ref>

This stemmed from the British Army's concern with the new Russian [[T-14 Armata]] main battle tank and the growing ineffectiveness of the ageing L30 rifled gun and the limited types of ammunition supported. It was confirmed that numerous armoured vehicle manufacturers had discussions with the MoD about a potential replacement for the Challenger 2.<ref name="janes"/> Shortly after, the British Army decided that purchasing a new tank would be too expensive and chose to proceed with the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP).<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/land/vehicles/2015/10/11/uk-army-extend-life-challenger-2-new-tank-too-costly/73410010/ UK Army To Extend Life of Challenger 2; New Tank Too Costly ]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} - Defensenews.com, 11 October 2015</ref> The Challenger 2 is expected to remain in service until 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gizmag.com/bae-systems-britain-main-ballte-tank/43713/ |title=BAE Systems bid provides glimpse into the future of Britain's battle tanks |work=Gizmag |author=David Szondy |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=8 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609114830/http://www.gizmag.com/bae-systems-britain-main-ballte-tank/43713/ |archive-date=9 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 2010 and 2014, 43 Challenger 2 tanks were disposed of as "beyond any economic repair".<ref name=times-20230730>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mod-destroyed-challenger-tanks-that-could-have-gone-to-ukraine-hklr9wpv6 |title=MoD destroyed Challenger tanks that could have gone to Ukraine |last=Greenwood |first=George |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=30 July 2023 |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

The maintenance contract [[Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land#Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (C2 LEP)|was let sometime in 2021]].
{{As of|2022}} maintenance and overhaul of the Challenger 2 is undertaken by the [[Babcock Defence Support Group]]. Design authority for the tank is held by [[Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land]] (RBSL). Engineering work is to be completed by RBSL and integration work by Babcock.<ref name=amu/> This complicated two-part project is [[#Upgrades|detailed below]]. The initial operating capability for the upgraded [[Challenger 3]] tanks is expected by 2027.<ref name=dnci/>

In May 2021, the UK MoD published a [[command paper]] entitled ''[[Defence in a Competitive Age]]''. In it, the MoD proposed to retire 79 tanks from the current fleet of 227, with the remaining 148 vehicles upgraded to Challenger 3 status.<ref>{{cite book |date=March 2021 |title=Defence in a Competitive Age |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971859/_CP_411__-_Defence_in_a_competitive_age.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |isbn=978-1-5286-2462-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322183107/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971859/_CP_411__-_Defence_in_a_competitive_age.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2021}}</ref>

===Supply to Ukraine===
After the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022, the then British Prime Minister, [[Boris Johnson]], declined Ukrainian requests for Challenger 2 tanks to be part of the military aid packages arranged by the United Kingdom and other NATO countries. British [[Secretary of State for Defence|Defence Secretary]] [[Ben Wallace (politician)|Ben Wallace]] had said that the idea "wouldn't work".<ref name="eatb">{{cite news |title=British Tanks To Fight Russia? UK Defense Secretary Says Giving Tanks To Ukraine 'Wouldn't Work' |url=https://eurasiantimes.com/british-tanks-to-fight-russia-uk-says-giving-tanks-to-ukraine/ |publisher=The EurAsian Times |date=27 March 2022}}</ref> In April 2022, Johnson and his German counterpart [[Olaf Scholz]] stated that both Western European allies would withhold their MBTs from the war. Johnson instead chose to deploy British Challenger 2 tanks to Poland to backfill the Polish Army and allowing the Polish government to donate Soviet-era [[T-72]]s to Ukraine.<ref name="pcg">{{cite news |last1=GALLARDO |first1=CRISTINA |title=UK and Germany won't send tanks to Ukraine |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-germany-rule-out-send-tanks-ukraine/ |work=Politico |date=8 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="dmbg">{{cite news |last1=Glaze |first1=Ben |title=Tories plan to scrap Army tanks despite sending some to Poland after Ukraine invasion |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-plan-scrap-army-tanks-27003396 |work=Daily Mirror |publisher=Reach plc |date=18 May 2022}}</ref>

On 14 January 2023, the British government confirmed reports that in light of the developing situation in Ukraine, it had reversed its position on the supply of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. An initial commitment of 14 vehicles was announced, alongside 30 [[AS-90]] 155&nbsp;mm self-propelled guns, and armoured repair and recovery vehicles. A spokesperson for the British Prime Minister, [[Rishi Sunak]], described the move as reflecting "the UK's ambition to intensify support". These tanks were the first Western MBTs offered to Ukraine, supplementing donations of Western manufactured infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, and self-propelled artillery;<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Is Considering Sending Battle Tanks to Ukraine, Officials Say |first1=Alex |last1=Wickham |first2=Daryna |last2=Krasnolutska |date=9 January 2023 |access-date=9 January 2023 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-09/uk-considering-sending-battle-tanks-to-ukraine-officials-say |website=bloomberg.com |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |title=UK considers supplying handful of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/09/uk-considers-supplying-handful-of-challenger-2-tanks-to-ukraine-war-russia |work=The Guardian |access-date=9 January 2023 |date=9 January 2023}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |last1=Beale |first1=Jonathan |last2=Andersson |first2=Jasmine |title=UK to send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, Rishi Sunak confirms |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64274755 |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=BBC News |date=15 January 2023}}</ref> A number of other countries have subsequently announced that they would supply Ukraine with Western-manufactured MBTs; specifically the American [[M1 Abrams]] and German-made [[Leopard 1]] and [[Leopard 2]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=What makes Germany's Leopard 2 tank the best fit for Ukraine? |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/01/25/what-makes-germanys-leopard-2-tank-the-best-fit-for-ukraine |access-date=26 January 2023 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

On 29 January 2023, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that the first Ukrainian troops had arrived in the UK to begin training on Challenger 2.<ref name="BFBS">{{cite news |title=Ukrainians arrive in UK to begin training on British Challenger 2 tanks |url=https://www.forces.net/ukraine/ukrainians-arrive-uk-begin-training-british-challenger-2-tanks |access-date=30 January 2023 |work=Forces News}}</ref> On 8 February, Sunak and Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy|Zelensky]] paid a visit to Ukrainian soldiers at [[Lulworth Camp]] where they were being trained on Challenger 2 tanks by British soldiers from the [[Royal Tank Regiment]] and the [[Queen's Royal Hussars]]. Sunak used the opportunity to reaffirm the British intention to have the first Challenger 2 tanks delivered to Ukraine by March 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Ben |title=Sunak and Zelensky meet Ukrainian soldiers training on tanks at Dorset camp |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/volodymyr-zelensky-dorset-one-british-army-challenger-b2278461.html |access-date=13 February 2023 |work=The Independent |date=8 February 2023 }}</ref>

On 27 March 2023, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that Ukrainian tank crews had completed their training in the UK on Challenger 2 tanks, and had returned to Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ukrainian tank crews complete Challenger 2 training in UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukrainian-tank-crews-complete-challenger-2-training-in-uk |website=GOV.UK |access-date=27 March 2023 |date=27 March 2023}}</ref>

On 18 August 2023 a picture of a Challenger 2 in Ukraine was released on Twitter. Unique modifications include top-mounted [[slat armour]] believed to be used to stop drone attacks.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Danielle |last1=Sheridan| first2=Nataliya| last2=Vasilyeva |title=Ukraine modifies British Challenger 2 tanks to protect them from Russian drones |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/16/ukraine-british-challenger-2-tank-modified-russian-drones/|access-date=27 March 2023 |work=Financial Times |date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

On 4 September 2023, a video emerged from [[Robotyne]] which showed the first combat loss of the Challenger 2 tank.<ref name="TELUKMBT"/><ref name= "destroyedchallenger">{{cite web |title=First U.K.-Delivered, Ukrainian Challenger II Tank Confirmed Destroyed Near Robotyne | work = The Atlas news |url= https://theatlasnews.co/conflict/2023/09/04/first-u-k-delivered-ukrainian-challenger-ii-tank-confirmed-destroyed-near-robotyne/ |access-date= 4 September 2023 |date=4 September 2023}}</ref>

During the [[Ukrainian incursion into Kursk]], three more Challenger 2 tanks were visually confirmed to have been destroyed.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forcesnews.com/ukraine/russian-claims-drone-destroyed-challenger-2-tank-during-ukraines-kursk-counter-offensive|title=Ukrainian Challenger 2 purportedly hit by drone during counter-offensive in Kursk|date=6 January 2025|website=www.forcesnews.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/08/16/ex-british-challenger-2-tanks-roll-into-kursk-as-ukraines-invasion-of-russia-grinds-into-its-11th-day/|title=Ex-British Challenger 2 Tanks Roll Into Kursk As Ukraine's Invasion of Russia Grinds Into Its 11th Day|first=David|last=Axe|website=Forbes}}</ref>