Posted on 09/27/2018 8:00:32 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Britain's manpower has been showcased at the Defence Vehicles Dynamics event in Millbrook - amongst them a prototype for updating the British Army's main battle tank.
Challenger 2 was designed and manufactured by BAE Systems, it entered service in 1998 and its life is being extended to 2035.
Two companies are bidding for the contract to do this - Rheinmetall, which is yet to revealed its proposal, and BAE Systems, which have showcased a prototype at the event.
Challenger 2, Mark 2 Demonstrator, nicknamed the 'Black Knight', has been developed within the last year, with the focus on enhancing its sensor systems.
It has a new commander's panoramic sight with a thermal and optical channel - meaning it has a full 24-hour hunter capability.
A night vision system was also added.
The Black Knight's new capabilities also contribute to its protective and offensive triggers.
These include laser warning receivers on its platform to help detect threats.
The active protection system is the iron fist - which can detect incoming missiles and destroy them before they hit the target.
The new systems also continue inside the tank. Simon Jackson, campaign leader for Challenger 2 at BAE Systems, said:
"When you get inside the platform we've put in a brand new commanders crew station - with flat screen displays, which all the sensors and the battle management can be seen and integrated."
Each new design was aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the tanks while also making the 'commander's life easier', says Mr Jackson:
"To make the commander's life much better and overall that significantly improves the fight-ability of the Challenger 2.
"We think it's turning a great tank into an even better tank."
He added: "I myself was a tank soldier - we've got a lot of people in the business who were on tanks.
"We designed it so we know exactly what needs to be done to give the British Army exactly what they need."
Way too much crap on the front glacis. This is the area designed to take incoming rounds.
I would also like to see how these sensors hold up to sand storms.
Related article from 2011: Britain has got more Generals than tanks.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/816406/britain-has-got-more-generals-than-tanks/
Or a shell filled with paint.
Yeah! Instead of APFSDS (Armor-Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot) rounds, they will now have: ACFSTTEPPUVP (Armor-Coating, Fin Stabilized, Two-Toned Exterior Paint with Primer and UV-Protected).
And it only took until the 2nd post. LOL
It scares the crap out of the Germans and makes pretty pictures.
Expensive toy.
I am sure the Muslims will like it when they take over Great Britain. /s
They make pretty pictures, scares the hell out of’em.
They could put a bigger piece of pipe to make people think it has an even bigger gun.
No loudspeakers on the thing? It’s a failed design.
Think of the call to prayer playing over the noise it makes with some big speakers.
Infidels get ran over, machine gunned, and large numbers, a round from the main gun.
An awful lot of things on that turret look like they wouldn’t respond well to violence.
The Fairly Secret Army could use it.
I came here just for this picture, and I was not disappointed!!!
Maybe it’s just me, but having a firm called Rheinmetall working on a British tank doesn’t sound kosher, so to speak.
Is the Rheinmetal 120mm L55 smoothbore canon being installed to replace the rifled 120mm gun?
They also have more admirals than ships
> They could put a bigger piece of pipe to make people think it has an even bigger gun <
Gotta give the Brits credit for one thing. At least their tank guns are made of steel. Due to budget cutbacks, some German tanks have used broomsticks instead (really).
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