I say 130mm as an example as it was shown of modified CR2 but there needs to some preparation to easily switch to the next big common cannon that NATO will use, whether that is Rheinmetall’s 130mm or Nexter’s 140mm, the 130mm is probably a better choice but there needs to be an easy way for changing in 50 years when humanity are somehow still alive and the British government are complaining about the cost of things but don’t want to fix anything. At least the CR3 will be sharing the same ammo with its German cousin
you can remove that 96kph figure btw
The 96km/h was an example. I was saying it because a 96km/h CR would be hella funny to see
ah it wasn’t in response to you, dw
Sadly CR3 doesn’t do anything new if anything it’s a tank due in 2 years and it will bring us to the levels of the M1A2 SEP V3 and the 2A7
It is a missed opportunity to not have used this opportunity to completly redesign and refine the CR3 and make it unique and capable of challenging Leopards export market share and even new upstarts Korea
2 Likes
I imagine the MOD are already considering the Challenger 3’s replacement/supplementation.
The Challenger 3 is supposed to bring the British Army up to standards with the best in NATO (such as the Leopard 2A8) and it does that. It’s also designed to accomodate growth such as a 130mm gun without significant modification. The turret is also available to be moved onto a more modern chassis later on if needed, this opens up export options too.
Technology learned from the Challenger 3 program can and will be used for a more noticeable upgrade. No other NATO nation are even close to fielding a new next generation tank design, they are all in early prototype and mockup stage at most.
The Challenger 2 is not up to standard for 2025 and a fast replacement was needed. The Challenger 3 has been a pretty fast and cost effective program which has produced a pretty impressive vehicle all things considered.
2 Likes
i just pray our future MBT program isnt just an obese ajax with a 130mm, which seems to be the trend with more recent MBTs for countries not at the bleeding edge of tech.
let alone just slapping Brimstones onto the Roof of the CR3. (please MOD, do that, just for War Thunder, even just a public live fire demonstration)
eh, Wouldn’t do much given it would be SAL.
Talking brimstone I hope then don’t go for the Boxer overwatch lmao, it would be sooooo bad in game lmao
Well as Challenger 3 program is to make MBT effective even at 2030s, I don’t think next MBT would see light in War Thunder.
to my knowledge there’s never really been an upgrade to CR2 since it entered service, while the Leo and Abrams have had continuous iterative development in the same timeframe. from that view you could probably say that the MoD is doing in one go what the others have done over a couple decades?
Yet they are still just usilising the technology that the others have been develping because the don’t want to have money or be successful again
ok
Do you know fast and cheap ways of getting rid of 80kg chicken? I need to dipose of one but can’t throw it away
are u ok?
There’s been mild upgrades, new thermals, ERA kits, etc to adapt to the conflict at the time, but most of the conflicts the UK have found themselves in haven’t been super intense, so while upgrades have been researched (CLIP for smoothbore guns, various engine upgrades etc) it’s not been deemed necessary until recently to actually upgrade anything majorly.
Plus large military spending is hard to justify without an active threat to rally against (the average person would rather the pothole on their way to work is fixed, rather than the military getting something that likely won’t get used), and there have been other more pressing concerns (IFVs etc) to spend a limited (Economic and “PR”) budget on.
4 Likes
As kitten said there have been some minor upgrades but nothing that substantial compared to major NATO nation upgrades (eg. New guns and improved armour arrays). These seem to be done either because they’re easy/cheap or because they absolutely need to be done.
So yes, the Challenger 3 upgrade is basically taking the Challenger 2 which hasn’t changed much in design from its conception in the 1980s and bring it up to a modern standard. I’d argue that the CR3 is a bigger step from the CR2 than the CR1 was to the CR2.
Signifiant Changes:
- A brand new smoothbore gun with a totally new ammo configuration (one piece)
- Totally new ammo stowage methods (blowout panels)
- A brand new turret design (although similar in appearance)
- State of the art new internal and external armour arrays developed by DSTL.
- The addition of third generation thermals for all crew + proper CITV.
- Major upgrades to electronics with the addition of tech such as datalink and AI integration.
- Active protection system integration (Trophy)
Upgrades/Less significant changes:
- Enhanced front hull protection.
- New suspension (3rd generation hydrogas)
- An improved engine (CV12-9A) to improve mobility and reliability.
- New target tracking ability via the new sights
- New turret and gun elevation drives.
- Laser Warning Systems
- HD cameras around the vehicle for situtational awareness.
- “Heads in display” for the commander CITV.
- and more…
I apologise for the yapping, but I think a lot of people understate how big the upgrade is, its basically a whole new tank wearing the Challenger 2’s skin (or paint i guess in this case?)
The Challenger 1 didnt really change any significant design features over the Challenger 2, it was just better at what the Challenger 1 did using the same design philosophy.
5 Likes
I would agree with that except they haven’t learned
Still very much underpowered in comparison to NATO partners, still dependant on additional armour arrays instead of just redesigning the hull, to eliminate these flaws.
CR3 as a platform expansion is purely in the range of fire power protection levels and mobility vulnerabilities will only be further exacerbated when 130/140mm guns come into service and the increase in weight and autoloading system puts further strain on the underpowered drive train.
Let alone the fact that the CR2 was and probably still is more than capable of taking on any armoured threat they would probably actually face. Sure it might be outclassed by a modern leopard or abrams, but IRL, it would never fight either.