Challenger 2 tank count dwindles as British Army is left with just 157 operational vehicles

The British Army has only 157 Challenger 2 tanks available for operations.

The figure was disclosed during a UK Defence Committee session earlier this week.

The service previously reported 227 Challenger 2 tanks in service, but did not specify how many of them are in combat readiness.

The transfer to Ukraine of 14 Challenger 2s, taken directly from the operational fleet, will further affect the British Army’s ability to respond to threats on its territory.

The Chief of the General Staff of the United Kingdom, Patrick Sanders, admitted that this step could make the army “temporarily weaker”.

In 2021, it became known that 148 British Challenger 2 tanks will be upgraded to the Challenger 3 variant.

The updated version will differ from the previous one with active protection systems, improved sensors and optics, as well as a new turret.

The tank will also have a 120mm Rheinmetall L55A1 smoothbore gun for increased lethality.

However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace later said that Britain could upgrade more tanks than originally planned.

Amid the Russian-Ukrainian war, London changed its plans and decided to modernize more combat vehicles.

Wallace did not specify figures. However, probably another 9 Challenger tanks can also be upgraded to the third version.

As previously reported, the United Kingdom will increase the number of tanks it plans to transfer to Ukraine and is helping to develop a consensus among allies on the transfer of weapons. The decision to double the number of Challenger 2 tanks that Ukraine will receive was made after Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the United Kingdom.