UK-supplied Challenger 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) have been deployed during Ukraine’s ongoing cross-border operations into Russia, which began last week.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has previously stated that there has been no alteration in policy, affirming Ukraine’s right to utilize British-supplied weaponry – excluding long-range Storm Shadow missiles – on Russian soil.
Although the MoD did not specify which weapons are included, sources have informed the BBC and Sky News that this includes the Challenger 2 MBTs, of which Ukraine has had 14 in operation since at least January 2023. It has also been reported that at least one British tank was destroyed in September 2023.
Kyiv and its allies have maintained a level of secrecy regarding the equipment utilized in the incursion targeting Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Reports from Russian media indicate the involvement of US-supplied Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), along with German-supplied Marder IFVs.
Ukraine’s 82nd Air Assault Brigade, known for operating Challenger tanks, is said to be one of the units participating in the Kursk operation. However, the exact number of British tanks deployed and their operational roles remain uncertain.
Ukraine has claimed tactical victories in the Kursk incursion, asserting control over 74 Russian settlements. Military analysts cited by the BBC attribute the rapid progress to the effective integration of combined arms, including armoured vehicles, artillery, and drones.
The Challenger 2 is operated by a crew of four, which includes a commander, gunner, loader, and driver. Its primary weapon is the L30A1 120-millimetre (4.7 in) rifled tank gun, an enhanced version of the L11 gun on the Challenger 1.
The tank carries fifty rounds of ammunition for this main armament, in addition to 4,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition for its secondary armaments: a coaxially mounted L94A1 EX-34 chain gun and a L37A2 general-purpose machine gun (GPMG).
The turret and hull are fortified with second-generation Chobham armour, also referred to as Dorchester.
Powered by a Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel engine, the Challenger 2 has a range of 340 miles (550 kilometres) and can reach a maximum speed of 37 miles per hour (59 kph).
