love it
It’s well past the concept stage. Signing a contract for delivery means they’ve been permitted to produce the armour at scale, having proved they can manufacture it and integrate it on a prototype vehicle.
The articles say:
initial integration trials conducted in 2023
i.e. they’ve already built one with DSTL’s armour and the customer (UK MoD) are happy that RBSL can fulfil the contract in accordance with DSTL’s design.
But be aware this is the EPSOM external armour, not the FARNHAM internal armour.
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Well
Depends on what we take for what. Do we take Chobham on the Cr2 as an external armour and Dorchester (DL1) as internal, or do we take Chobham as internal and Dorchester (DL2) as external?
The stupid thing is, both internal and external armour was refered to as Chobham and Dorchester (DL1 and DL2).
And based on Wikipedia (i know i know, but its better than none)
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To me he has got the names wrong, Epsom replaces Dorchester, and Farnham replaces the internal chobham(improved).
It was Jon Hawkes from Janes that reported at IAV last year that the modular armour package was the one designated Epsom. x.com
“Modular armour” typically refers to external armour packages that can be easily removed and scaled to operational threats, rather than being integral to the vehicle’s hull or turret.
So was just following what’s been presented by defence journalists.
But possible with the new turret that everything is modular, and there’s little to no integral armour besides the steel citadel. This is the approach taken with Israel’s Merkava and Japan’s Type 10. Thus Epsom and Farnham would both be a range of scalable external armour packs and significant departure from the CR3 tech demonstrator.
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So that will be Farnham replacing DL1 and EPSOM replacing DL2.
Seems fine to me.
Does anyone know when the CR3 Proto is being unveiled? Can’t be that long now.
Any day now
Rumour is that something will be shown at IAV 2024, which starts Monday.
or do the sensible thing and use CV90.
So can we assume we are going to see basically Dorchester slapped onto the Cr3? This is including different kits by the way i.e 2E-2I.
Probably not theyre still testing the new external armour
In general though. Whenever EPSOM (or is it Farnham?) is tested then could we basically just see Dorchester level 3 kits like it’s level 2 progenitors?
Probably but we will have to wait and see
why is the reload so bad? is the reload time the same as the leopard 2a7?
Yes as same gun so same reload i guess
Anybody at IAV2024?
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"Our second presentation takes place at 5pm in the Elgar Suite. Rory Breen, Sales Director at
Vehicle Systems International Division, will discuss #Challenger3: Delivering an upgraded Main Battle Tank #capability and bridging to the next generation combat system."
almost there
