BELFAST — The British Army’s newly upgraded Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank has undergone and completed crewed live firing, ticking off a key milestone for the £800 million ($1.08 billion) program, expected to eventually deliver 148 vehicles into service.
The live firings, the first for a UK-operated main battle tank in over 30 years, were held at an undisclosed UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) training center, according to a statement issued today by German manufacturer Rheinmetall.
Joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) produces Challenger 3, billed as a more advanced and capable version of its Challenger 2 predecessor, includes integration of Rheinmetall’s 120mm smoothbore gun, a digitized turret, sights for day and night targeting, Rafael’s Trophy active protection system and a modular armor system.
“Part of the progressive assurance of the tank’s capabilities and systems before it enters service, the [live firing] trial followed a carefully phased programme, beginning with remote operation before progressing to crewed firing by RBSL personnel,” said the Rheinmetall statement.
Outlining next steps, the firm added that “the tank will undergo further trials, as it moves towards operational service as the centrepiece of the British Army’s modernisation programme.”
The vehicles are designed and produced from RBSL’s facility in Telford, England, with the manufacturer due to deliver eight prototypes, but it remains to be seen when serial production will be launched.
Last month, Luke Pollard, UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said in a parliamentary statement, “Manufacturing will begin once the tank’s performance is proven, rather than being tied to a specific deadline.” He added, “The project team will review the timeline regularly to ensure alignment with delivery milestones, operational needs, and emerging technical risks.” An Initial Operating Capability (IOC) milestone is expected to be met in 2027.
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Pollard has also hinted however that production issues are linked directly to Challenger 3’s supply chain, as the MoD concentrates on “securing the necessary materials, identifying opportunities and mitigating risk to deliver tanks to users as soon as practicable.”
As Breaking Defense previously reported, the serviceability and operational readiness of the British Army’s Challenger 2 fleet has been politically contentious.
UK armed forces equipment figures for 2025 indicate that the service holds an inventory of 288 Challenger 2 vehicles, but there are no plans to upgrade more than 148 on contract for upgrade to the Challenger 3 standard.
Despite difficulties faced by other high profile land programs, most notably the Ajax armored fighting vehicle, the British Army is committed to doubling its warfighting capabilities by the end of 2030, in order to counter threats from major adversaries like Russia, China and Iran.