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Challenger 2

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Article Genealogy
Parent: BAE Systems Hop 3
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Challenger 2 is a British Army main battle tank, designed by Vickers Defence Systems and manufactured by BAE Systems. The development of the Challenger 2 was influenced by the Gulf War and the Cold War, with the tank being designed to counter threats from Soviet Union tanks such as the T-72 and T-80. The Challenger 2 has seen action in several conflicts, including the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, alongside other NATO forces, including the United States Army and the Canadian Army. The tank has also been used in various United Nations peacekeeping missions, such as the UNPROFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

● Development

The development of the Challenger 2 began in the late 1980s, with Vickers Defence Systems being awarded a contract to design and build a new main battle tank for the British Army. The development process involved collaboration with other companies, including Rolls-Royce and General Dynamics, and was influenced by the Falklands War and the Gulf War. The Challenger 2 was designed to be an improvement over the earlier Challenger 1, with a more powerful Perkins engine and improved Chobham armour. The tank was also designed to be compatible with other NATO tanks, such as the M1 Abrams and the Leopard 2. The development of the Challenger 2 was overseen by the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), with input from the Royal Armoured Corps and the Royal Tank Regiment.

● Design

The design of the Challenger 2 is based on the earlier Challenger 1, but with several significant improvements, including a more powerful Perkins engine and improved Chobham armour. The tank has a crew of four, including a commander, a gunner, a loader, and a driver, and is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore cannon, designed by Royal Ordnance. The tank also has a 7.62mm machine gun, designed by FN Herstal, and a L37A1 anti-aircraft machine gun, designed by Royal Small Arms Factory. The Challenger 2 has a top speed of over 60 km/h and a range of over 400 km, making it a highly mobile and versatile tank, capable of operating in a variety of environments, from the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan.

● Operational_history

The Challenger 2 has seen action in several conflicts, including the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, alongside other NATO forces, including the United States Army and the Canadian Army. The tank was first deployed to Kuwait in 1998, as part of Operation Desert Fox, and later saw action in Iraq during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The Challenger 2 has also been used in various United Nations peacekeeping missions, such as the UNPROFOR mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. The tank has been praised for its reliability and effectiveness in combat, with the British Army reporting high levels of satisfaction with the tank's performance, particularly in comparison to other tanks, such as the M1 Abrams and the Leopard 2.

● Variants

There have been several variants of the Challenger 2, including the Challenger 2E, which was designed for the Spanish Army, and the Challenger 2+, which was an upgraded version of the tank with improved Chobham armour and a more powerful Perkins engine. The Omani variant, known as the Al Hussein, was also designed and built by BAE Systems, and features several unique modifications, including a 12.7mm machine gun, designed by Heckler & Koch. The Qatari variant, known as the Al Temsah, was also designed and built by BAE Systems, and features several unique modifications, including a 7.62mm machine gun, designed by FN Herstal.

● Operators

The Challenger 2 is currently operated by the British Army, with a total of over 400 tanks in service. The tank is also operated by the Omani Army, with a total of over 38 tanks in service, and the Qatari Army, with a total of over 24 tanks in service. The Jordanian Army has also expressed interest in purchasing the Challenger 2, and has received several tanks as part of a foreign military sales program, overseen by the United States Department of State and the United States Department of Defense. The Kuwaiti Army has also operated the Challenger 2 in the past, although it has since been replaced by the M1 Abrams.

● Specifications

The Challenger 2 has a length of over 11.5 m, a width of over 3.5 m, and a height of over 2.5 m, making it a large and imposing tank, comparable in size to other NATO tanks, such as the M1 Abrams and the Leopard 2. The tank has a crew of four, including a commander, a gunner, a loader, and a driver, and is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore cannon, designed by Royal Ordnance. The tank also has a 7.62mm machine gun, designed by FN Herstal, and a L37A1 anti-aircraft machine gun, designed by Royal Small Arms Factory. The Challenger 2 has a top speed of over 60 km/h and a range of over 400 km, making it a highly mobile and versatile tank, capable of operating in a variety of environments, from the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan. The tank is powered by a Perkins engine, designed by Perkins Engines, and has a power output of over 1,200 hp, making it a highly powerful and effective tank, comparable to other NATO tanks, such as the M1 Abrams and the Leopard 2.

Category:Tanks

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