Challenger 3

[shrike6]

https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-...icle-programme

[Brit]

Unsure about the camoflage scheme...

https://www.army.mod.uk/media/12447/...48570020000000

[Raellus]

More like Challenger 2.5. It seems like the British military has adopted a very loose nomenclature system.

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[Vespers War]

Originally Posted by Raellus

More like Challenger 2.5. It seems like the British military has adopted a very loose nomenclature system.

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It sounds like just about the only thing staying unchanged is the hull - it's getting a new engine, new optics, new turret, new suspension, and probably an active protection system. It's about as different as, say, the A27 Cromwell and the A34 Comet.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by Vespers War

It sounds like just about the only thing staying unchanged is the hull - it's getting a new engine, new optics, new turret, new suspension, and probably an active protection system. It's about as different as, say, the A27 Cromwell and the A34 Comet.

Fair point. It still seems like less different of a tank compared to something like the Leopard 2, vis-a-vis the Leopard 1.

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[Ramjam]

Well at last at least the British army will be be using the standard NATO tank round.

How many years has it taken? The 120mm was introduced in 1979.

I can just see the NATO logistics chiefs sighing in relief

[CraigD6er]

The Challenger 2 was actually vastly different internally to the Challenger 1, so no surprise if 3 differs from 2 as well. Whatever they do, it will still have the ability for the crew to have a brew without leaving the vehicle.

[Brit]

Sort of in a similar vein...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Ground_Combat_System

"According to Nexter's head of tracked and armor programs, Francois Groshany, the benefit of the tank is the combination of the "very high capability" Leopard 2 chassis with the lighter Leclerc turret".

So... Frankentank in 'the real world' ?

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by Brit

Unsure about the camoflage scheme...

https://www.army.mod.uk/media/12447/...48570020000000

WHAT!!?? You've NEVER heard of "Dazzle Camouflage?"

[Tegyrius]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

WHAT!!?? You've NEVER heard of "Dazzle Camouflage?"

Just needed an excuse to one-up the Berlin Brigade camo scheme?

- C.

[Ursus Maior]

Originally Posted by Brit

Sort of in a similar vein...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Ground_Combat_System

"According to Nexter's head of tracked and armor programs, Francois Groshany, the benefit of the tank is the combination of the "very high capability" Leopard 2 chassis with the lighter Leclerc turret".

So... Frankentank in 'the real world' ?

As far as I know, the finer details are still in the works. But a chassis derived from the Leopard 2A7 and a turret derived from the Leclerc, but with a 130 mm gun might be the general direction. Spain wants to swap their Leopard 2s for this new European Main Battle Tank design, and Poland as well as Italy have shown interest as well.

Let's say, this might become the next big thing on the tank-horizon (2040ish) or it will be one big and costly piece of vaporware.