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Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land has secured a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for delivery of a new modular armour system for the Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank.
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The Land Industry Strategy contract, announced by MOD joint-defence trading entity Defence Equipment & Support, will cover the testing, manufacture, and integration of the new armour onto the Challenger 3 tanks after initial integration trials were conducted last year.
The new modular armour is expected to provide enhanced survivability and enhanced protection for the Challenger 3 as a key component of the Army’s Future Armoured Brigade Combat Teams and the UK’s contribution to NATO deterrence.
“This contract signature is great news and another step forward in the delivery of the Army’s next MBT capability,” according to Colonel Will Waugh, Army Armour Programme senior responsible owner.
“The conflict in Ukraine has provided a timely reminder of the threat posed by Russia’s MBTs and other weapon systems.
“This armour is a world-class sovereign capability that will provide a step change in protecting our soldiers and the survivability of Challenger 3.”
The Challenger 3 program will not only deliver a main battle tank, but it will also regenerate critical industrial capability in the UK.
The enhanced armour contract will deliver a world-class industrial capability for the manufacture of armour solutions, according to Colin McClean, RBSL managing director.
“The industrial investment that will be realised as part of this contract will see Telford at the forefront of armour development and manufacture,” he said.
“The investment in this critical capability will deliver for the British Army now and into the future. Driving the delivery of the Land Industry Strategy generating British IP, British supply chain, and British skills.”
Late last year, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the first two Boxer armoured fighting vehicle prototypes had arrived in the UK ahead of British Army trials
The vehicles will form a core part of the Army’s new Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, where it will be paired with Ajax and Challenger 3 to form the cornerstone of the Army’s ability to fight and win wars on land.
The arrival of the vehicles will allow troops from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to begin getting up-close and trialling Boxer, marking a major success milestone in the program.
The Boxer platform features mobility and advanced threat detection technology to manoeuvrability for the British Army.
The UK and Germany have worked closely together on the program, with the vehicle build in the UK benefiting from German expertise, data, and collaboration. The first 117 vehicles are being built on German production lines. UK facilities in Telford and Stockport are ramping up their manufacturing capabilities for the remaining 506.
“The delivery of these prototypes to the Army for trials is not only positive news for the future of the British Army, it also boosts our commitment to investing in the UK’s defence industry and supply chains, meaning we can retain critical engineering and manufacturing skills in the UK,” according to Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton, Director General Land at Defence Equipment and Support.
“The delivery of Boxer vehicles ensures warfighting remains at the heart of the British Army and today’s milestone reaffirms our threat-led approach; delivering the Army the capability it needs to meet the challenges of the battlefield as outlined in Future Soldier.”
UK production is focused in Telford through Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) and Stockport through KNDS, with supply chain sub-contracts across the UK, including in Glasgow with Thales.
