The Ministry of Defence has confirmed a single-source contract worth £30 million with Van Kappel Ltd for the repair, remanufacture, and maintenance of ESW Challenger 2 Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), according to a press release.
Babcock Land Defence Limited, acting as the MoD’s agent, announced that Van Kappel Ltd is “the only supplier with the specific know-how, STTE and ownership of the bespoke OEM designed APU Test Set and associated tooling.”
Consequently, the agreement will proceed under Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, which allows for a negotiated procedure without prior publication on technical grounds.
The contract covers the ongoing support of Challenger 2 APUs, including repairs and remanufacturing of units, and is designed to maintain operational efficiency and interoperability.
According to the award notice, the MoD “is not in a position to be able to identify the exact technical requirements” for this specialised equipment, contributing to the decision to rely exclusively on Van Kappel Ltd.
The notice clarifies it is “not a request for expression of interest,” confirming that negotiations will be restricted to the named supplier. The arrangement is expected to preserve the Challenger 2’s core capabilities by ensuring its auxiliary power systems remain functional and securely integrated with the main platform.
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So I know what APUs are for on aircraft, sane for tanks??
Allows stuff like radios, sighting systems, night vision, turret power etc to run without using the main engine. Saves wasting fuel, making lots of noise, reduced heat signature etc.
Silly me!
I thought ALL our Challenger 2s were being converted to 3s by (spits) Rheinmetall.
Most, but until they upgraded to Challenger 3s they remain Challenger 2s.
It’s going to be a while for the final challenger 2 to leave front line service..not until 2030 probably.
It is good news as it means we are not running down CH2 maintenance and groping it while waiting for CH3
I suppose the same sets will be used in ch3 as well as ch2?
AA
I do hope the Government will reconsider CH3 numbers as some commentary is pointing to the importance of the MBT on the modern battlefield. Though many MBT’s have been lost on both sides in Ukraine the heavy tank is still the only method of attack across land obstacles and in urban areas. They may visually change considerably with tutel-like additional protection (which allegedly is being considered on UK tanks) thus making them heavier and strange-looking machines. Britain does not have a realistic MBT force and the US may identify this as a weakness, which requires a major rethink? To support… Read more »
Hi Maurice.
I think, at the most, the third Regiment of Ch2 could be reprieved, and not convert to Ajax.
That will be made clear in the SDR and Project Wavell, if it ever reports and we see it in its entirety.
Any further expansion of Tank numbers is highly unlikely.
And I’d prefer the money spent on the RA, AD, and other enablers.
Hi Daniele, much of the UK’s future policy for the next four years will be heavily dependent on US foreign policy. Trump knows he can play many tunes with the UK Government as it will do almost anything to retain the ‘Special Relationship.’ Also, trade agreements (if achieved) between the two countries will enclose a defence component that won’t come cheaply. Looking back to the 50’s and 60’s Britains so-called independent deterrent was strictly monitored by the US who obviously judged it to be an extension of its own network. The same will apply today and a modern and highly… Read more »
The best tank in the world snafu’d by the buromob.
With proper anti tank Drones instead of these cobbled together barbarians ones all tanks better beware.
🫶✌️
The ESW is a more modern Perkins engine with a different generator, ancillaries and ECU. Loss for Babcock as they used to refurbish the CRARRV APU’s which are very similar, this was a legacy ABRO contract which they probably still have. Often shortage of ESW service items -rocker breather valve and stainless gauze, oil pressure inhibit switches were source of no-start trouble.
Shows how far we have slipped in engineering in this country, with yet another contract going to the only company left standing. Small things yet vital, now we are on the brink of losing quality steelmaking capabilities. We never learn.
Baffling that the MoD is unable to ‘identify the exact technical requirements’ for the APU. Whatever that means. MoD has been supporting the APU for 27 years with REME at First and Second Line and ABRO/DSG/Babcock at Third Line. DA for the tank is BAE. All things must be known about the APU and how to maintain it.
Babcock reduced number of items electrical shop at Bovington serviced and outsourced them to save money, instead of off the shelf or two day turnaround it became a couple of weeks. The lock wiring on ESW electric cooling fans was shockingly bad at first, oil seals (keep grease in ) on CR2 power pack fans and shims wrong way round in first batch. The fuel pump shop was closed, quality of initial Minimax pumps overhauled was lower to begin with. The minister MR Phillip Dunne said Babcock would provide end to end support with no loss of capability
Chally 2, with icing on..that’s chally 3. There are no new hulls, because the capability doesn’t exist. The guns are German, the power pack pretty much also. BAE is no more, it’s RB, so the Cr2 will go into the shed, bits glued on, cables attached and millions of pounds worth of German engineering dropped in and on
Van Keppel have been Batus supplier for years, Babcock was so rubbish, thanks to its DSG purchasing and “Workrounds” aka Bodging. Millions wasted, Warrior emasculated, and Deutchland indeed is user alles
Powerpack is 9A Perkins with upgrades, old Rolls Royce design. Perkins now owned by Caterpillar who are based in Texas. ESW is Perkins with Germans bolting on bits and ECU. CR2/3 Transmission is David Brown, US Allison transmission would be stronger. In Batus some semi -skilled people were sent out along with skilled and mistakes were made, the Army was not happy when they found out and cancelled the contract. Profit is a greed driver lol.