According to a video published by the British Ministry of Defense, by the end of March 2023, Ukrainian tank crews have completed training on Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT) in the UK and have returned home to continue their fight against the Russian troops who have invaded Ukraine.
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Ukrainian soldiers train on Challenger 2 MBT Main Battle Tank in the United Kingdom. (Picture source Screen Shot Video footage UK MoD)
On January 16, 2023, the British Secretary of State for Defence announced the largest package of combat power to expedite Ukraine's success in the war against Russia, which includes a squadron of 14 Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs).
The United States leads in providing military aid to Ukraine, having allocated $33.2 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration, with $32.5 billion of that aid being granted since February 2022.
The United Kingdom, as the second largest contributor, has committed £2.3 billion in military support to Ukraine thus far and plans to match this assistance in 2023. Additionally, the UK is hosting a training program called Operation Interflex, which is backed by multiple allies and aims to train 30,000 new and current Ukrainian personnel by the end of 2023.
The Challenger 2 tank has several advantages compared to the T-72 and T-80 tanks, currently used by Ukrainian soldiers, particularly in the areas of armor protection, firepower, and overall reliability.
The Challenger 2 is renowned for its advanced armor protection, utilizing a combination of Chobham composite armor and Dorchester Level 2 armor. This offers exceptional protection against kinetic energy penetrators, shaped charges, and IEDs. In comparison, the T-72 and T-80 have weaker armor. The T-72 features a combination of steel and composite materials, while the T-80 has more advanced composite armor, but neither is on par with the Challenger 2.
In terms of firepower, the Challenger 2 is equipped with a 120mm L30A1 rifled gun, providing accurate and powerful firing capabilities. Although the T-72 and T-80 both use a 125mm smoothbore gun with higher muzzle velocity, they may lack the accuracy and consistency of the Challenger 2's rifled gun.
Moreover, the Challenger 2 is known for its high reliability and ability to withstand harsh conditions. It has a lower mechanical failure rate than the T-72 and T-80, which have faced various issues with their gas turbine engines and other components.
Although the T-72 and T-80 have undergone upgrades over the years, their basic designs remain dated in comparison to the more modern Challenger 2, which maintains a clear edge in protection, firepower, and reliability.
