Non-Subscriber Extract
UK moves on Challenger 2 upgrades
By Christopher F Foss
25-May-07
The UK has begun a Challenger 2 main battle tank (MBT) Capability Sustainment Programme (C2 CSP), which aims to keep the vehicles viable until their projected out-of-service date in about 2035.
Part of the UK's recently formed Defence Equipment and Support organisation, the Future Systems Group (FSG), has issued an invitation to tender (ITT) for the C2 CSP to BAE Systems Land Systems, which is the design authority for the Challenger 2. The short-term aim is to continue to derisk the programme before additional funding is released.
The Challenger Lethality Improvement Programme (CLIP), which includes the replacement of the current 120 mm L30 series rifled tank gun with a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun, will be rolled into the C2 CSP. The FSG has been funding CLIP for several years, and the first unmanned firing of the weapon installed in a Challenger 2 MBT took place in early 2006.
Of the original 386 Challenger 2 MBTs, one has been lost due to friendly fire in Iraq and at least two have also been damaged.