Designation:

Challenger 2

Info
Manufacturer: Vickers Defence Systems Ltd.  
Product type: Armoured Vehicles  
Name: Main battle tank  

Challenger 2 is an advanced main battle tank built by the UK company, Vickers Defence Systems Ltd. Challenger 2 is in service with the British Army and with the Royal Army of Oman. The UK placed orders for 127 Challenger 2 tanks in 1991 and an additional 259 in 1994. In 1993 Oman ordered 18 Challenger 2 tanks and an order for a further 20 tanks was placed in November 1997.

Challenger 2 entered service with the UK Army in June 1998, and it is expected that all regiments will be equipped with Challenger 2 by 2002. Deliveries for Oman should be completed by 2001.

Challenger 2E, the latest development model, has been designed for the export market and is suitable for harsh environmental and climactic conditions.

ARMAMENT

Challenger 2 is equipped with an L30, 120 mm rifled tank gun from the Royal Ordnance division of BAE SYSTEMS. The gun is made from electro-slag refined steel (ESR) and is insulated with a thermal sleeve. It is fitted with a muzzle reference system and fume extraction. The turret is capable of 360 degree rotation and the weapon elevation range is from -10 to +20 degrees.

There is capacity for 50 120 mm projectiles, including armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive squash head (HESH) or smoke rounds. The L30 gun can also fire the Depleted Uranium (DU) round with a stick charge propellant. With the DU round, the L30 is part of the Charm 1 gun, charge and projectile system. A Charm 3 system is under development in which the DU projectile has a higher length to diameter aspect ratio for increased penetration.

The gun control is provided by an all-electric gun control and stabilisation system from BAE SYSTEMS. Challenger 2 is also equipped with a Boeing 7.62 mm chain gun, which is located to the left of the main tank gun. The loader has a 7.62 mm GPMG L37A2 anti-air machine gun, mounted on the cupola.

SELF-PROTECTION

The turret is protected with second generation Chobham armour. A nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection system is located in the turret bustle. On each side of the turret are five L8 smoke grenade dischargers, from Helio Mirror Company. Challenger 2 can also set a smoke screen by the injection of diesel fuel into the engine exhausts.

FIRE CONTROL AND OBSERVATION

The digital fire control computer from Computing Devices Company has capacity for additional systems, for example a Battlefield Information Control System.

The commander has a panoramic VS 580-10 gyrostabilised sight from SFIM Industries. A laser rangefinder is incorporated into an intermediate assembly. Elevation range is +35 to -35 degrees. The commander's station is equipped with eight periscopes which provide 360 degree vision.

The Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight II (TOGS II), from Pilkington Optronics, provides night vision. The sensor is based on UK TICM 2 common modules. The thermal image, with magnification x 4 and x 11.5 is displayed in the gunner's and commander's sights and monitors. The gunner has a Pilkington Optronics stabilised Gunner's Primary Sight, consisting of visual channel, 4 Hz laser rangefinder and display. The laser rangefinder has a range of 200 m to 10 km.

The driver is equipped with an image-intensifying Passive Driving Periscope (PDP) from Pilkington Optronics, for night driving.

PROPULSION

The Challenger 2 has a 12 cylinder 1200 hp Perkins diesel engine and a David Brown TN54 gearbox, with 6 forward and 2 reverse gears. Second-generation Hydrogas suspension and hydraulic track tensioner are fitted. The maximum speed by road is 59 km/hour and 40 km/hour cross country. The range is given as 450 km by road and 250 km cross country.

CHALLENGER 2E

Challenger 2E has a new integrated weapon control and battlefield management system, which includes a gyrostabilised day/thermal sight for both commander and gunner. This allows hunter/killer operations with a common engagement sequence. An optional servo-controlled overhead weapons platform can be slaved to the commander's sight to allow operation independent from the turret.

The powerpack has been replaced with a new 1500 hp Europack with transversely mounted MTU 883 diesel engine coupled to Renk HSWL 295TM automatic transmission.


Specifications:
Property Value
Crew
4
Weight (kg)
62500
Length (mm)
11550
Width (mm)
3520
Height (mm)
2490
Track (mm)
2785
Max. road speed (km/h)
56
Max. road range (km)
450
Depth of fording, without preparation (mm)
1070
Gradient (%)
60
Vertical obstacle (mm)
900
Trench (mm)
2340
Engine power output (h.p.)
1200
Number of forward gears
6
Number of reverse gears
2
Main weapon caliber (mm)
120
AA gun caliber (mm)
7.62
Auxiliary gun calibre (mm)
7.62
Ammunition of the main gun
50
Ammunition of AA gun
4000
Elevation (degree)
20
Depression (degree)
-10
Planes of gun stabilization
2
Ground pressure (kg/sm2)
0.9
Ground clearance (mm)
500
Length of track on ground (mm)
4790
Track link width (mm)
650
Average speed on dry soil road (km/h)
40
Fuel capacity (l)
1592
Cross-country cruising range (km)
250
Number of smoke grenade launchers
10
Traverse arc (degree)
360


Has folowing part:
Total Amount
5 HP 1500 (Transmission)
1
? (Azimuth guidance drive)
1
? (Combat actions training simulator)
1
? (Commander's training simulator)
1
? (Cooling system)
1
? (Driver's training simulator)
1
? (Gun)
1
? (Gunner's training simulator)
1
CV12-1200TCA (Diesel engine)
1
ELSS (Climate control system)
1
EX-34 (Machine gun)
1
L11 (Gun)
1
L8A2 (Machine gun)
1
RA315 (Intercom)
1
TN54 (Transmission)
1
TR60 (Track chain)
1
Type 570 P (Track chain with rubber-padded shoes)
1

Challenger 2 quantities:
Country Qnt
OMAN OMAN
38
UNITED KINGDOM UNITED KINGDOM
386
Qnt:
424

Last Contracts:
Qnt Customer Value Add Date
(Close Date)
Unit cost
20
OMAN
$172.000.000
Apr 1997
(Dec 2000)
$8,600,000
Average Unit Cost:
$8,600,000

All contracts...


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