- The impending arrival of the UK Challenger 2 Tanks could make a difference in Ukraine's battle against Russia.
- Russian media says Obsolete Challenger 2 tanks are still capable.
- The tanks arrived just in time and will be part of a spring offensive that Ukraine will launch.
Russian media remarked that the UK Challenger 2 tanks could be significant on the Ukrainian battlefield. Even if they are older tanks, most will do better compared to older Russian tanks.
UK Challenger 2 Tanks Arrive in Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine wanted these tanks, and in January, they finally got a commitment to send them. The units will be part of the spring offensive that will face the Russian advance in the east of Ukraine. On March 27, Berlin sent 18 modern Leopard 2 Main battle tanks to Kyiv. Berlin said it would send the tanks on time and approved the export of several Leopard variants, mentioned VOA News.
Reports stated the first set of tanks got delivered on February 24. Earlier, the Poles sent tanks last month, per Breaking Defense.
Tanks sent to Ukraine are the Leopard 2 and British Challenger-2 tanks, which the Ukrainian Defense Minister strongly supports. Ukrainian officials said along with the Challenger will be German Marder IFVs, US Cougar armored trucks, and Stryker APCs, cited Taipei Times.
German media said that Ukrainian troops in Germany are training how to operate the Leopard 2s. Added these troops will be in Ukraine by March.
The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) remarked that Ukrainians are back after training on the tank. Stated they can operate NATO tanks when they are deployed.
UK Challenger 2 Tanks Capabilities
The UK touts the Challenger 2 is very efficient with a powerful cannon and well protected with additional units of Bulldog APCs and 30 AS-90 artillery units. A Russian outlet said the MBT is a late third generation that would include the T-80 and T-90 in the same category, noted Top War RU.
The tank is equipped despite being an older variant that threatens Russian armor, mentioned Forbes.Its armor is Chobham or Dorchester armor as the best to offer cladding a tank. Top secret armor with twice protection compared to the steel that glances a T-72s direct cannon fire. ERA kit with additional protection can be added to the tank. Its rifled Royal Ordnance L30 120-mm main gun has a range of four kilometers and is accurate 5 to 7%.
Several kinds of rounds can be used in a smooth-bore gun, like HESH and APFSD shells, as ammunition. But depleted uranium round might be included stated in reports. But Moscow said it was wrong to act because it was a nuclear escalation. The west is confident the British MBT will do well in Ukraine.
Some experts say it is not like the Challenger 3, but the 2 is the only one Kyiv is getting. It has good characteristics as an MBT too.
Russian media mentions the UK Challenger 2 tanks as an older platform, but it has a powerful, smooth-bore gun that can fire several lethal rounds. As a heavier tank, it also has heavier armor for better protection from direct hits.
