Rheinmetall awarded Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme Assessment Phase Contract

[Zarvan]

Rheinmetall has been awarded a Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (CR2 LEP) Assessment Phase contract by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.

The British Army is seeking to extend the service life of the Challenger 2 main battle tank through to 2035. During the Assessment Phase, Rheinmetall will develop solutions in line with user requirements set by the MOD.. The programme includes addressing existing obsolescence issues, with Rheinmetall offering options that will sustain the capability and effectiveness of the Challenger 2. The Assessment Phase contract is worth £23 million.

At the end of the Assessment Phase Rheinmetall will make an offer for the Demonstration, Manufacture and In Service contract phases. If successful, under current planning, this contract would see Rheinmetall becoming the Design Authority for the Challenger 2 and cover the modification of Challenger 2 tanks to Mk 2 standard.

Rheinmetall is currently involved in upgrading the technical and tactical performance of the Leopard 2 main battle tank for two major international customers and offers a wide array of cutting-edge systems. Continuous investment in research and development keep Rheinmetall at the forefront of modern tank technology, which the company plans to share with the British Army.

With its experience and technological wherewithal to take the lead in every aspect of the CR2 LEP, Rheinmetall is ideally placed to cover all the current lines of development, including assured long-term logistical support, which will maintain Britain’s longstanding expertise in tank development and design.

A key aspect of the Rheinmetall offer is to involve UK suppliers in the Assessment Phase, with a Rheinmetall systems engineering team based in the UK to support CR2 LEP and other programmes.

http://defence-blog.com/army/rheinm...sion-programme-assessment-phase-contract.html

 

[Friendly]

In addition to meeting the requirements of the British Army Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (C2 LEP), Rheinmetall Defence will look to introduce wider enhancements to the platform.

The company submitted its proposal for the LEP - an effort that is focused on replacing obsolete sub-systems, primarily in the turret - on 11 August.

Rheinmetall's C2 LEP proposal leverages experience obtained in upgrade programmes for the Leopard 2 main battle tanks (MBTs) of the Indonesian and Polish militaries.

The key capability enhancement that Rheinmetall is proposing would see the Challenger 2's 120 mm L30A1 rifled gun replaced by the company's 120 mm L55 smoothbore, which has already been trialled as part of a UK MoD technology demonstrator contract. There has been no significant ammunition development for the L30A1 in recent years.

The installation of the L55 may be more expensive in the short-term but it would enhance the capability of the Challenger 2 due to the considerable investment in ammunition development and production undertaken by Rheinmetall.

The L55 is already in service with Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Qatar and Spain and when compared to the earlier 120 mm L44 smoothbore gun installed in the original Leopard 2 through to the A5 variant, provides an increase in target engagement capability of up to 1,500 m when firing armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition.

In addition to firing the latest Rheinmetall DM63A1 APFSDS natures of ammunition, and future developments with enhanced penetration characteristics, the L55 can also fire the latest 120 mm DM11 programmable air burst ammunition, which has significant utility in urban operations.

Other potential Challenger 2 enhancements from Rheinmetall would include new optronics, situational awareness systems, and fire control solutions.

As well as undertaking all aspects of the C2 LEP Design Authority, the company would incorporate UK suppliers in the programme as well as providing through life support.