The Ministry of Defence says it has made “significant progress” in exploring export opportunities linked to the Challenger 3 tank programme, but has declined to provide further detail.
In a written answer to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: “The Department continues to explore opportunities for the export of Challenger 3 capabilities with significant progress made to date.” However, Pollard added that the government would not disclose specifics, stating: “Providing further detail at this time would compromise commercial sensitivities.”
The response follows previous parliamentary questions about whether the UK is actively seeking international customers for Challenger 3, which is being developed as the British Army’s next-generation main battle tank upgrade.
It’s still unclear which countries, if any, are seriously looking at Challenger 3 as a future tank option. No prospective customer has been publicly identified, and there have been no announcements suggesting a formal sales campaign is under way.
That uncertainty reflects the reality that Challenger 3 is a highly specific capability, shaped around British Army requirements and the UK’s industrial approach to upgrades and support. Export interest would very likely depend on whether potential buyers see value in that model, and whether the tank fits with their own priorities on interoperability, sustainment, and future European armoured programmes.
For now, the language used by ministers suggests the UK is actively sounding out opportunities, but the picture remains very opaque.
We have had significant meeting but don’t know anything. 🤔
I thought the Challenger 3 was just an upgrade to the existing Challenger 2’s? Basically a new/upgraded turrent with a few other upgrades. Doesn’t this limit our exports to the number of existing Challenger 2 tanks we already have? It doesn’t seem like we have enough tanks for ourselves, I don’t think we can afford to sell any to other countries.
Jordan has a shedful in storage.
Haveing difficulty seeing what export potential there might be ? It is an upgrade, not new build
CH1 , Oman has some CH2
It would have to be new build hulls in the case of export. Building those would be relatively easy. The turret is the difficult part.
So why aren’t all Challenger 3’s new build? They told us new build wasn’t a viable choice! Now it is?
New build will be more expensive, and more expensive is what the goverment calls not viable. Of course, that’s for us. If someone else wants to pay, it’s completely viable.
Its just to save afew bob. Theres no reason why they couldnt knock out the hulls if someone came in and asked for 500. Im not saying the will sell a single one, but it doable. If they can build Boxer hull in the UK they can build new Chally aswell.
Haveing difficulty seeing what export potential there might be ? It is an upgrade, not new build
Please sir can we, the UK, have more?
If we can’t build or upgrade any more for our own army, why are we proposing selling them overseas from limited remaining Ch2 hulls we’ll desperately need for parts at the very least in any future conflict?
I dont think they are saying that. Certainly doesnt say that in the article