Challenger 3 upgrade involves Jankel
Challenger 3 MBT demonstrator vehicle. (Photo: RBSL)
Jankel is to provide 148 seating sets to RBSL for the Challenger 3 MBT upgrade programme.
Another participant in the British Army Challenger 3 MBT upgrade programme has been selected, after prime contractor Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) chose Jankel to design, develop and manufacture crew seats.
The deal, worth more than £2 million ($2.68 million), covers 148 seating sets (444 seats in total) for Challenger 3 commanders, gunners and loaders.
Jankel announced on 25 January that the contract is split into development and manufacturing phases. The former includes the design, development and integration of the new seat sets into the Challenger 3, followed by verification through design reviews and rigorous testing.
The manufacturing phase will follow in 2025 if all goes to plan.
RBSL received a contract from the UK MoD in May 2021 for the Challenger 3 programme to upgrade 148 Challenger 2s by 2027, in line with MoD plans in its March 2021 Command Paper.
In a parliamentary session held in November 2021 outlining the British Army's Future Soldier modernisation programme, the UK government stated that the first delivery of Challenger 3 will be accelerated to 2025.
Jankel is the first subcontractor to be selected by RBSL for the Challenger 3 upgrade, and Shephard understands that more will follow in the months to come.
In June 2021, the UK MoD chose Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to provide a lightweight version of its Trophy Active Protection System.
At DSEI in September 2021, RBSL displayed a Challenger 3 prototype equipped with the Trophy MV system.
This article was amended on 31 January to note that the UK MoD awarded a subcontract to Rafael.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Future Ground Combat System MBT (UK)
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Australian Army experiments with UGVs, but seeks understanding before proliferation]()
Australian Army experiments with UGVs, but seeks understanding before proliferation
The Australian Army is exploring the options and benefits of a wide range of UGVs.
-
![British Army’s Archer hits bullseye for capability and procurement]()
British Army’s Archer hits bullseye for capability and procurement
The Archer artillery system was rushed into service and training of British Army trainers began in October 2023 before live fire trials just over a year later.
-
![NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet]()
NZ begins modernisation of its tactical vehicle fleet
VAMTAC vehicles are expected to replace one-quarter of New Zealand’s Pinzgauers and Unimogs.
-
![Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024]()
Israel’s Elbit Systems riding high and reports almost a billion dollars in orders to close 2024
Elbit Systems has signed another US$967 million in orders in the past three months after reporting its land revenues increased by 24% for 3Q2024 compared to 3Q 2023 thanks to increasing ammunition and munition sales in Israel.
