I believe the MBT-80 story goes something like this.
In the 1970s the Iranian revolution happens and at a similar time Britain discovers Russia is fielding new T80s which the Cheiftain would struggle to fight.
This makes the British government rush to get a tank into service as fast as possible to stop their tank fleet being obselete. The Shir-2 (later the Challenger 1) was already developed for export (to Iran), the MBT-80 wasn’t, so they chose to adopt the Shir-2 instead and named it the Challenger 1.
The Challenger 1 had some issues as it was pushed into service so fast, so they very quickly started developing a replacement. This could have been the MBT-80, but it was easier to use the MBT-80’s tech to improve the Challenger 1. Hence, the Challenger 2 was created.
By the time the Challenger 2 was done the Challenger 1’s issues had been fixed and the Soviet union had collapsed, there was no longer such a need for the MBT-80.
The MBT-80 would have probably been a great tank, if the Iranian revolution hadn’t happened it may have actually been developed.
Instead Britain had work with what they had and fast, creating the capable but imperfect Challenger 1 and 2. Only now, with the Challenger 3, have most of their issues been fixed. It’s a shame that only 148 Challenger 3’s are being produced though
Ah true, just like the F-117 Leak was fake, I wish it would have been real :(
Would realy love to see an F-117 to see in game, maybe make it the first Stealth plane in game
On this one quartas might be right. I don’t know if the US at the time would have approved for it to receive DU armor or if it would have had export armor.
