The Challenger 3, is our new Main Battle Tank for the future.

Along with Ajax and Boxer, it will be at the heart of the Army’s warfighting capability in the Heavy Brigade Combat Teams.

Challenger 3 will be a 24-hour, all-weather tanks. Some of the features that will be built into the vehicle are, 

• Day and Night Commanders Primary Sight.
• Day and Night Gunners Primary Sight.
• NATO 120mm smoothbore weapon L55A1, capable of firing NATO ammunition and enhanced ammunition natures.
• Heavy Armour Automotive Improvement Project, 3rd generation hydro gas suspension & engine improvements.
• Enhanced front and side turret protection.
• Improved Tactical Communications.
• Enhanced hull protection.
• Increased electrical power and GA electronic architecture with growth potential.

Challenger has hit all of its milestones to date including a successful Critical Design Review (CDR) at the beginning of 2023.

This was the milestone that froze the design of the prototype vehicles.

The prototypes will then be manufactured and put through trials in order to refine the design before the manufacture of production vehicles commences. The first prototype is expected at the end of the year.

There are high levels of collaboration across the Challenger 3 Enterprise. We are also applying lessons learned from other programmes.

These include the creation of a ‘digital twin’ which will eliminate risk and save time in the manufacture and trials phases. It will also increase our social value through things like reduced carbon emissions.   

This learning is also being applied to supply chain management, minimising a delay to the completion of the first two prototypes.

Trials are a critical part of developing a new armoured vehicle. The purpose of trials is to rigorously test the design and push our new Main Battle Tank to the limits. Finding faults, refining the design and running into setbacks is a sign of successful and robust trials. 

Following these trials, the design will be refined. This will culminate in the System Qualification Review (SQR). This will agree the final manufacturing standard which will be used to produce the remaining tanks. It is currently forecasted that the trials will be completed and the SQR will be reached during 2026.

The Initial Operating Capability is forecasted to be in 2027. All 148 Challenger 3's are planned to be in service by the end of 2030.