I turn back to the UK the
CHALLENGER 2 and more as it pertains to the ongoing
MOD Defense Review, which I now understand will be
released in November.
The tank is under a lot of
scrutiny it's too old which is true in that it hasn't seen a
major upgrade since
1998.
The last one considered I thought I'd be submitting for this patch, until I've found no documentation it ever got "
off the ground"...
https://www.janes.com/defence-news/n...lenger-2-tanks
So what's to be done or otherwise proposed? The following will fill you in. This tank I thought was going to get in the game
within the next two years, with time lost over the
political/military crisis and
COVID-19 it's now at
least 3 years out if at all, to
FOC.
Here's the
upgrade plan...
https://www.themilitarytimes.co.uk/h...m-bae-systems/
Last I heard,
MOD was leaning toward the
Smoothbore MG.
More Governmental concerns "
all around" and the "
considerations" after...
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...fence-strategy
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53909087
What's the "
big picture"? Well for the current and future land programs the following covers that.
This from the end of this past
July. Which means the
NET date I gave yesterday is
NOT EVEN CLOSE I quote...
"The programme has experienced significant technical problems, with a
current in-service date of 2024 (
originally planned for 2017)" and the "
beat goes on"...
https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27...e#.X3gNbhSSmUl
To contrast the above
latest update I give you one from
Jan 2020 prior to further
Mechanical/Technical,
COVID-19 and the
current Defense Review. First with some quotes...
"...according to an
MoD source. “The seventh
Ares vehicle has entered the final stages of testing and
will be delivered to the Household Cavalry Regiment in the coming months,” said the source."
That 7th one is the first to be delivered just this past week. The
first 6 are "
test beds".
Same
MOD source...“
No 40 mm turreted Ajax
has yet been delivered to the army.” This goes back to the CT-40 gun issues and FCS problems they are having. I have to state the obvious but, of course the "
test beds" (
6 Units) have them.
The Numbers Game... "The first Ajax squadron is expected to
require 20-25 Ajax family vehicles, including a mobility reconnaissance support, turreted reconnaissance, command, engineer, recovery, and repair variants
before it can declare IOC."
A
long way to go yet.
And finally..."An
MoD spokesperson told
Jane’s on 15 January, “
our target for Ajax initial operating capability remains July 2020”.
Well someone "
spiked" the tea, because "they sure as
poop
missed that one.
Hot or Cold, I never "
spike" mine.
WASHOUT:
1)
AJAX significantly delayed or possibly worse, cut.
2)
AJAX ARES seems thus far not to be in danger yet. Program still in development with first unit having been received to military. Probably FOC I'd think around mid 2021.
3)
BOXER on track no issues and w/BOXER CT-40 (German designed CT 40mm) could replace the WARRIOR CSP.
4)
CHALLENGER 2 LEP upgrade on hold to start possibly in 2021 or possibly worse, cut.
5)
WARRIOR CSP program is apparently on track and partially due to configuration difference between it and the AJAX, WARRIOR CSP has not seen as many problems with the 40mm. Issue could be cut in favor of the BOXER CT-40 or without replacement.
It isn't pretty but it's where we're at.
Almost forgot, there is some "
supposition" on the web regarding the
CHALLENGER question that the
UK is negotiating or is about to with
Germany and
France to be part of the "EUROTANK" project. If so we'll hear about within a few months after the Defense Review results are known.
Regards'
Pat
