Ukraine will receive twice as many Challenger 2 tanks as previously planned – Technology Org
In January 2023 it was confirmed that the United Kingdom will supply Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. This opened the door for Ukraine to get modern Western heavy equipment for an allegedly planned spring counteroffensive. Ukraine needs as many tanks as it can man to liberate the lands currently occupied by the Russian forces. And the good news is that even before the first Challenger 2 tanks arrived, the number of them was doubled.
Challenger 2 tank is different from other NATO tanks because it has a rifled gun. Image credit: WO2 Adrian Harlen/MOD via Wikimedia (OGL v1.0)
Back in January the UK’s Minister of State for Defense Procurement Alex Chalk said that the group of 12 Challenger 2 main battle tanks will arrive in Ukraine in late March. Again, this is important, because it is believed that in spring Ukraine is going to launch a large-scale counterattack to liberate some of the occupied territories or even maybe push out Russian forces to the borders.
On 29 January, the first Ukrainian tank crews arrived in the UK to begin training. It was reported that the UK’s tank crews were pleasantly surprised about how well Ukrainians were absorbing the new knowledge and skills required to operate these tanks. And now there is more good news.
Ukraine will actually receive twice as many Challenger 2 main battle tanks as previously reported – 24. Ukrainian tank crews are still undergoing training in the UK, but soon enough they will be ready to employ these impressive machines in battles along the frontline in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country.
One of the things Ukrainians are currently learning in the US is to use these tanks in units. They are quite different from T-72s and other Soviet/Russian tanks that Ukrainians are used to, which means that there is quite a lot to learn.
It seems like Ukraine will ultimately get 24 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. Image credit: Cpl Kellie Williams, RLC/MOD via Wikimedia (OGL v1.0)
24 tanks may not seem like much, since Ukraine needs hundreds of such machines in order to organize an effective counterattack to reclaim its territories. However, the Challenger 2 is more advanced than anything Russia has deployed in Ukraine to this day.
Yes, it is old-fashioned in the way that it has a rifled 120 mm gun, but it has impressive crew protection, powerful munitions, and great off-road ability. Together with tanks, Ukraine will also receive armored repair and recovery vehicles, which are, of course, needed to support these units.
According to Wikipedia, the UK has 227 Challenger 2 tanks in total. Donations of 24 is a significant number. Hopefully, Ukrainians have a good plan on how to effectively employ their Leopard 2, Challenger 2, and M1 Abrams tanks into solid units. Having so many different combat vehicles may pose some logistics challenges, but it is better to figure out logistics than not have what to fight with.
Sources: Defense-ua.com , Wikipedia