BAE Systems details Black Night demonstrator
On 11 September, Jane’s was given an exclusive tour of Black Night, BAE Systems’ Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP) technology demonstrator.
The LEP is intended to address mission system obsolescence and ensure that the vehicle remains supportable until 2035.
https://www.janes.com/article/83009/bae ... monstratorSimon Jackson, campaign leader of BAE Systems’ Team Challenger 2, told Jane’s , “BAE Systems is nearing the completion of the Challenger 2 LEP assessment phase contract with the MoD [Ministry of Defence]. We have submitted documentation to support the MoD’s preliminary design review and Black Night has been developed to both inform the development of our Challenger 2 Mk 2 solution, and to demonstrate the maturity of our design.”
He went on to say, “The new capabilities of the upgraded vehicle will ensure that it is effective out to 2035, with growth potential to proceed beyond this date if the MoD so requires.”
Furthermore, the design process has provided commonality with the Ajax, the UK’s future reconnaissance vehicle currently under production by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) UK, to the extent that an Ajax commander could operate in a Challenger 2 Mk 2 with relatively little adjustment. This will reduce the training and support burden, an issue that many countries have encountered when deploying a mixed fleet of vehicles.
According to Jackson, Black Night “is a demonstrator designed to show what Team Challenger 2 has achieved during the assessment phase. It includes the core offering of advanced mission systems as well as options such as active protective measures.”
The improvements include a Safran Paseo commander’s independent sight, Leonardo thermal imager for the gunner, and Leonardo night sight DNVS 4. The enhancements are designed to provide a 24-hour hunter-killer capability through the provision of thermal imagers for the gunner, commander, and driver.
Außerdem hat der Demonstrator ein aktives Hardkill-Schutzsystem IMI Systems Iron Fist, Granatwerfer von Thales UK und Laserwarnempfänger Elbit Systems ELAWS.
Challenger 2
https://des.mod.uk/what-we-do/navy-proc ... ioCats=119
https://web.archive.org/web/19990220083 ... /rt001.htmHAND-OVER OF THE WORLD’S MOST FORMIDABLE MAIN BATTLE TANK – VICKERS’ CHALLENGER 2 – TO THE BRITISH ARMY
30 Jun, 1998
When Challenger 2 is handed over to the British Army by the UK Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive in Germany today the ceremony will highlight the enormous achievement of Vickers Defence Systems.
Sir Colin Chandler, chairman of Vickers P.L.C., who formally made the hand-over said:
"This event marks the successful culmination of the most complex, design, development, production and trials programme ever undertaken for an armoured fighting vehicle. As a result, Challenger 2 is not only the most formidable main battle tank in the world, it is also the most reliable. Superior capability is of course vital for the Force Commander, but more important is his confidence that that capability can be delivered consistently. Challenger 2 provides that consistency.
"This is a momentous day for the British Army, for Vickers, for our workforce in Leeds and Newcastle, and for our suppliers and sub-contractors who, together with Vickers Defence Systems, form the Challenger 2 partnership."
Production reliability trials for the Challenger 2 programme were completed last year. The contract is in two parts – one for 386 main battle tanks worth just over £1 billion, and the second for logistics and support valued at about £300 million.
Challenger 2 is a new-generation main battle tank that includes a world-beating combination of firepower, mobility and survivability. Its firepower incorporates a state-of-the-art fire control system with the most advanced thermal imaging and an entirely accurate 120mm rifled gun; it is protected by the world’s strongest armour technology proven in live firing tests; and its mobility and reliability have been tested over many thousands of kilometres in all terrains.
In addition to its selection to replace the British Army’s entire main battle tank fleet, Challenger 2 is also in service with the Royal Army of Oman; and its derivative, the Challenger 2E, is under consideration by a number of other countries.
Challenger 2 is already in service with the British Army training organisation, and deliveries are now complete to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at Fallingbostel, Germany - the first deployment of the new main battle tank to an armoured regiment. The new tank is backed by a comprehensive training and logistics support operation, including a suite of computer-based gunnery simulators.
Challenger 2 is currently in production at the Newcastle and Leeds factories of Vickers Defence Systems. VDS is part of Vickers P.L.C and is a world leader in the design and integration of land-based weapons systems, and in the development of advanced combat equipment.
- ENDS -
https://web.archive.org/web/19990220083 ... /rt001.htm
UK: Modernisierung des "Challenger 2" oder Neuentwicklung?
http://www.doppeladler.com/forum/viewto ... 90&p=57663