Challenger 2 is an advanced main battle tank built by the UK company, Vickers Defence Systems Ltd. Challenger 2 is in service with the British Army and with the Royal Army of Oman. The UK placed orders for 127 Challenger 2 tanks in 1991 and an additional 259 in 1994. In 1993 Oman ordered 18 Challenger 2 tanks and an order for a further 20 tanks was placed in November 1997.

Challenger 2 entered service with the UK Army in June 1998, and it is expected that all regiments will be equipped with Challenger 2 by 2002. Deliveries for Oman should be completed by 2001.

Challenger 2E, the latest development model, has been designed for the export market and is suitable for harsh environmental and climactic conditions.

There is capacity for 50 120 mm projectiles, including armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive squash head (HESH) or smoke rounds. The L30 gun can also fire the Depleted Uranium (DU) round with a stick charge propellant. With the DU round, the L30 is part of the Charm 1 gun, charge and projectile system. A Charm 3 system is under development in which the DU projectile has a higher length to diameter aspect ratio for increased penetration.

The gun control is provided by an all-electric gun control and stabilisation system from BAE SYSTEMS. Challenger 2 is also equipped with a Boeing 7.62 mm chain gun, which is located to the left of the main tank gun. The loader has a 7.62 mm GPMG L37A2 anti-air machine gun, mounted on the cupola.

The commander has a panoramic VS 580-10 gyrostabilised sight from SFIM Industries. A laser rangefinder is incorporated into an intermediate assembly. Elevation range is +35 to -35 degrees. The commander's station is equipped with eight periscopes which provide 360 degree vision.

The Thermal Observation and Gunnery Sight II (TOGS II), from Pilkington Optronics, provides night vision. The sensor is based on UK TICM 2 common modules. The thermal image, with magnification x 4 and x 11.5 is displayed in the gunner's and commander's sights and monitors. The gunner has a Pilkington Optronics stabilised Gunner's Primary Sight, consisting of visual channel, 4 Hz laser rangefinder and display. The laser rangefinder has a range of 200 m to 10 km.

The driver is equipped with an image-intensifying Passive Driving Periscope (PDP) from Pilkington Optronics, for night driving.

The powerpack has been replaced with a new 1500 hp Europack with transversely mounted MTU 883 diesel engine coupled to Renk HSWL 295TM automatic transmission.

Has folowing part: Part Amount 5 HP 1500 (Transmission) 1 ? (Azimuth guidance drive) 1 ? (Combat actions training simulator) 1 ? (Commander's training simulator) 1 ? (Cooling system) 1 ? (Driver's training simulator) 1 ? (Gun) 1 ? (Gunner's training simulator) 1 CV12-1200TCA (Diesel engine) 1 ELSS (Climate control system) 1 EX-34 (Machine gun) 1 L11 (Gun) 1 L8A2 (Machine gun) 1 RA315 (Intercom) 1 TN54 (Transmission) 1 TR60 (Track chain) 1 Type 570 P (Track chain with rubber-padded shoes) 1

Challenger 2 Quantities: Country Quantity OMAN 38 UNITED KINGDOM 386 Total: 424