{
  "id": "challenger-2",
  "name": "Challenger 2 (FV4034)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "GBR",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1998,
  "operators": [
    "GBR",
    "OMN",
    "UKR"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 3,
  "summary": "The Challenger 2 (FV4034) British Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a third generation British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defense Systems (now known as BAE Systems Land & Armaments).",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Alvis plc, BAE Systems Land & Armaments",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 62.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "Perkins CV12 TCA Diesel",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 1200,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 59,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 50,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 40,
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.07 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Hydropneumatic suspension",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "10 rds/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Loader",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "Manual, with two-piece ammunition comprising a fully combustible bag charge and projectile.",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Minimum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "-10 deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Maximum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "+20 deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Mk5, IFCS Mk 11/12",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Tank Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "SAGEM VS 580-10 gyro stabilised sight",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, Thales Gunner's Primary Sight",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, 2-plane",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Range Finder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Laser",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Chobham / Dorchester Level 2 (classified)",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Chobham / Dorchester Level 2 (classified)",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available, The sides of the vehicle are protected by short armoured skirts, which stretch the full length of the vehicle.",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Explosive reactive armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Active Protection System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, Dorchester level 2 armour",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, MDH Defence Vehicle NBC filtration system",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, VIRSSS (Visual and Infra-Red Smoke Screening System).",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "L30A1 (LFF) Challenger Main Armament or CHARM 120 mm Rifled Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "1 x L94A1, Hughes EX-34 7.62mm Chain Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) L23",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,534 m/s"
      },
      "qty": "50 total rounds of any combination of 120mm Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "APFSDS L26 (CHARM 1)",
      "role": "120 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "INA"
      },
      "qty": "50 total rounds of any combination of 120mm Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "HESH L31",
      "role": "120 ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "670 m/s"
      },
      "qty": "50 total rounds of any combination of 120mm Projectiles"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Titan",
      "text": "The Titan armored bridge layer is based on aspects of the Challenger 2 running gear and replaced the Chieftain Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (ChAVLB). The Titan came into service in 2006 with the Royal Engineers, with ",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Trojan",
      "text": "The Trojan Armored Vehicle Royal Engineers is a combat engineering vehicle designed as a replacement for the Chieftain AVRE (ChAVRE). It uses the Challenger 2 chassis, and carries an articulated excavator arm, a dozer bl",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Challenger 2E",
      "text": "The Challenger 2E is an export version of the tank. It has a new integrated weapon control and battlefield management system, which includes a gyrostabilised panoramic SAGEM MVS 580-day/thermal sight for the commander an",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "CRARRV",
      "text": "The Challenger Armored Repair and Recovery Vehicle (CRARRV) is an armored recovery vehicle based on the Challenger 1 hull (with the updated Challenger 2 powertrain) and designed to repair and recover damaged tanks on the",
      "src": [
        "weg-challenger-2"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": {
    "file": "challenger-2.jpg",
    "thumb": "challenger-2-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Swadim",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CHALLENGER_II_DSEI_2019.jpg",
    "title": "File:CHALLENGER II DSEI 2019.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/challenger-2.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-challenger-2": {
      "title": "Challenger 2 (FV4034) British Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Challenger_2_FV4034_British_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}