UK's challenger 3 tank fires without crew
A leap in military tech
WORLD 28 April 2024 - 09:05
The United Kingdom is advancing its military capabilities with the development of the Challenger 3 tank. After creating eight prototypes, an impressive demonstration showcased the tank's ability to fire remotely without any crew on board.
The British-German consortium RBSL (Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land) unveiled a distinctive feature of the Challenger 3 tank. In a presentation by James Cartlidge, the British Deputy Minister of Defense responsible for arms purchases, the tank was shown to be capable of firing in the absence of its crew, Essa News reports.
Detailed information about how the Challenger 3's armament was remotely controlled was not provided, such as the control range and how it manages successive shots given its lack of an autoloader or its effectiveness amidst electronic warfare.
The evolution of the tank
Despite claims by the British that their new tank is the top contender in NATO, the Challenger 3 is essentially an effort to keep pace with current rivals. One of its main improvements over the Challenger 2 is the resolution of several longstanding issues.
The Challenger 3 represents a significant upgrade rather than a brand-new design. It modernizes 148 of the existing 227 British Challenger 2 tanks. Modifications were made to the hull, including upgraded suspension, engine, and transmission systems.
Major updates were also applied to the turret and armament systems. The Challenger 2's turret was replaced with a completely new model that features an ammunition storage system similar to that of the Abrams tank. This system separates the ammunition from the crew and is safeguarded with blow-off panels to deflect explosion forces outward.
The new Farnham composite and Epsom modular armor enhance the turret's enhanced protection.
Adopting a smoothbore gun
The upgrade extends to the tank's armament. Despite its long-range accuracy, the Challenger 2's distinctive 120-mm rifled gun L30A1 suffered from compatibility issues with NATO standard ammunition. Because of its unique loading process—requiring separate loading of the projectile, the propellant charge, and the primer—it complicated operations and incurred additional costs for specialized ammunition production.
Moving away from a tradition spanning over five decades, the Challenger 3 will now utilize a German Rh120 smoothbore gun, aligning it with the armament of most Western tanks.
Challenger 3 completed test firings this week 🔥
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 27, 2024
👇👇👇https://t.co/RNcUbQfOln pic.twitter.com/tgUnHDqzPd
Caliber.Az
1
|
Armenia's diplomatic dance in Moscow: Balancing act amid geopolitical tensions West's dilemma in sanctions & double standards
09 May 2024 - 18:18
|
2
|
Potential breakthrough in Azerbaijan-Armenia relations Crucial Almaty peace talks
10 May 2024 - 13:15
|
3
|
Unpacking the ongoing protest & its political implications Armenia at a crossroads
10 May 2024 - 17:57
|
4
|
Azerbaijan's pivot toward Central Asia Interregional interaction
11 May 2024 - 09:17
|
5
|
Amid rising calls for Azerbaijani-Armenian peace accord Türkiye's president urges swift action
09 May 2024 - 14:09
|
Japan, South Korea want in on Pillar 2 – but trust is still sticking point
Aukus expansion12 May 2024 - 06:37
China’s consumer inflation edges upward in signal of slow economic recovery
12 May 2024 - 04:30
UN reports 300 deaths from flash floods in northern Afghanistan
12 May 2024 - 02:20
Mistaking Kim Jong Un for South Korean President, sparks ridicule and concern
US President Biden's new gaffe12 May 2024 - 00:15
Battery energy storage systems: a bright future for Scotland
11 May 2024 - 22:10
US Congress shapes funding two Virginia-class subs amidst budget limits
11 May 2024 - 20:00
Israel orders new evacuations in Rafah as it gets ready to expand operations
11 May 2024 - 18:08
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites disrupted by major solar storm
11 May 2024 - 17:54
North Korea leader Kim Jong Un inspects artillery weapon system, attends test firing
11 May 2024 - 17:42
Severe geomagnetic storm hitting Earth could knock out power, electronics worldwide
11 May 2024 - 17:30
US adds 37 China entities to trade blacklist over security concerns
11 May 2024 - 17:18
German MEP backs Macron's proposal for European nuclear deterrent
11 May 2024 - 17:06
Poland to build defensive fortifications on eastern border
11 May 2024 - 16:54
EU finalizes blueprint for security assurances to Ukraine
11 May 2024 - 16:42
China, Hungary forge strategic partnership amid global diplomatic rifts
Caliber.Az on YouTube11 May 2024 - 16:30
Leveraging Russian ties amidst Western posturing
Armenia's economic tightrope11 May 2024 - 16:18
Joost Klein from the Netherlands disqualified from Eurovision 2024
11 May 2024 - 16:06
Turkish Navy executes its most ambitious drills in recent years
VIDEO11 May 2024 - 15:54
France calls on Israel to end Rafah operation “without delay”
11 May 2024 - 15:42
President Aliyev expresses confidence in permanent peace across Azerbaijani lands
Speaking in Shusha11 May 2024 - 15:38
Azerbaijani deputy defence minister dismissed due to age limit
Defence Minister chairs meeting/PHOTO11 May 2024 - 15:30
Political turmoil in Kuwait as emir dissolves parliament
11 May 2024 - 15:17
Prospects for peace treaty signing between Azerbaijan, Armenia
Experts weigh in11 May 2024 - 15:05
Ecology minister plants trees at Azerbaijan Park in Islamabad
11 May 2024 - 14:49
Gaza death toll surges to 34,943 as Israeli attacks continue
11 May 2024 - 14:32
Azerbaijani, Armenian FMs commit to ongoing discussions on open issues
11 May 2024 - 14:20
Media: In Africa they say, “France, get out!”
11 May 2024 - 14:16
Two new ships for Russian Black Sea fleet
11 May 2024 - 13:57
Azerbaijan relocates first group of displaced persons to Shusha, Sus village of Lachin
PHOTO11 May 2024 - 13:45
Zelensky vows to quash new Russian offensive in Ukraine's Kharkiv region
11 May 2024 - 13:32
Friction, diplomacy in Beijing-Paris/Brussels relations
Chinese president’s European tour11 May 2024 - 13:22
Biden prepares to slap tariffs on Chinese electric cars
Move could inflame trade relations between the countries11 May 2024 - 13:20
Russian effort to seize Kharkiv City require long drives across open terrain on scale
Report by ISW11 May 2024 - 13:05
Heydar Aliyev Foundation, ICESCO ink memorandum of cooperation
11 May 2024 - 12:59
Police foil road blockade attempt, detain dozens of protesters in Yerevan
11 May 2024 - 12:50
Armenian politician detained in Russia for alleged calls to overthrow government
11 May 2024 - 12:49
"Kharibulbul" International Music Festival kicks off in Shusha
First couple attending the event11 May 2024 - 12:40
Azerbaijani leader, ICESCO chief applaud advancement in bilateral collaboration
PHOTO11 May 2024 - 12:34
US announces new $400 million package of weapons for Ukraine
11 May 2024 - 12:30
Armed revanchists detained in Armenia’s Etchmiadzin ahead of PM's arrival
11 May 2024 - 12:12