Challenger 3

rdf:langString Challenger 3

rdf:langString Challenger 3

rdf:langString Challenger 3

rdf:langString "new Modular Armour" consisting of "EPSOM" and "FARNHAM" Armour, APS

rdf:langString "Megatron", the British TES reference vehicle, at Bovington fitted with a Mobile Camouflage System in 2016

rdf:langString Perkins CV12-9A V12 diesel 26.1 litre

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString yes

rdf:langString Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land

rdf:langString Rheinmetall L55A1 120 mm smoothbore gun

rdf:langString From 2027

rdf:langString Horstman third generation Hydrogas

rdf:langString David Brown Santasalo TN54E epicyclic transmission with new component improvements.

rdf:langString Challenger 3 (CR3) is a planned third generation British main battle tank in development for the British Army. It will be produced by conversion of existing Challenger 2 tanks by the British/German Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land joint venture. Improvements to Challenger 2 began in 2005 as the Capability And Sustainment Programme (CSP) to keep the Challenger 2 competitive until the 2030s. Lack of funding meant that it wasn't until 2014 that the programme was formally reorganised into the "Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme" (LEP). In response to the LEP programme, two prototypes were submitted for evaluation; one from BAE Systems in 2018 and the other from Rheinmetall in 2019. Later that year BAE and Rheinmetall merged their British operations into Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), effectively leaving Rheinmetall's proposal the only option available without replacing the Challenger 2 fleet with non-indigenous models. The Challenger 3 has an all-new turret with an improved hull. The most significant change from Challenger 2 to Challenger 3 is the replacement of the Challenger's main armament from a 120 mm L30A1 Rifled main gun to the 120 mm L55A1 smoothbore gun (which itself is an upgraded version of the L55 fitted to the Leopard 2A6/A7 family of main battle tanks) giving commonality with other NATO members. It is the first British built tank that doesn't have a rifled main gun from its inception.