Challenger 2(2022) - "The Last Hurrah"

[Fireball_2020 467]

Description:

The challenger 2 is in the process of receiving two end of life updates that aim to extend its life out to 2030 until it is replaced. Upgrade work of this platform is being done by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and was done by BAE in 2018. The main armament is the Royal Ordinance 120mm L30A1 Rifled Cannon, an upgraded gun over the earlier L11A5 found on Chieftain and Challenger 1 variants. The Armour remains the same Dorchester internal armour we are used to at British Top Tier. The sighting system was the first of the two upgrades, replacing the aging TOGS Sensor with a new Thales Catherine MP LW Thermal Sight, to improve the Gunner and Commanders identification and vision ability. The suspension system has been upgraded to the 3rd generation Horstmann Hydrogas, increasing off road performance and stability. The engine has been upgraded to the CV12-9A standard, running at 2400rpm(Up From 2350rpm for the CV12-6A), with new turbo’s and a lighter cooling setup, allowing for a maximum speed of 60km/h. The Transmission has also been upgraded with new components, to the 1500hp TN54E standard. These upgrades bring a desperately needed mobility improvement that would be an excellent addition to the end of the British Tree. This Vehicle would also have the potential for an armour upgrade. With a level 4 mod for the Level 2G kit. Coming stock with the 55mm mounting plate on the UFP to serve as an armour improvement. The composition of this plate is 5mm Structural Steel + 30mm HHRa, + 20mm Kevlar. This add-on kit is very similar to the 2009 2H kit, however the add-on era blocks have been removed, leaving the composite screen and Composite Blocks below, and being covered in the SAAB Barracuda MCS.
 

 

 

Upgrades:

 

TISP

- The first upgrade took place in 2018, where the TOGS 2

Sensor was replaced with the Catherine MP LW 3rd generation

Thermal Sight.

 

HAAIP

- The second upgrade began in 2021, which improve the vehicles drivetrain and suspension to prepare it for the Challenger 3 Upgrade.

- Adds the CV12-9A engine running at 2400rpm at 1500hp.

- Adds 3rd Generation Horstmann Hydrogas Suspension.

- Improves the Transmission Components to the 1500hp spec, no change in gear ratios.

 

Specification:

Crew: 4, Driver, Loader, Gunner, Commander Weight: 64,000kg

Speed: 60km/h

Length: 9.806m(Gun Rear)

Width: 3.554m

Height: 3.038m

Main Gun: L30A1

Ammunition: L28A1, L27A1, L26A1, L31A7, L34

Sighting Equipment: Catherine MP LW(4x - 11.5x Zoom), SAGEM VS 580-10, Thales Enforcer 2 Thermal Sight

Stabilisation/Gun Laying Equipment: Marconi GCE

Elevation/Depression: +20/-10 Degrees

Engine: CV12-9A with improved power(1500ps)

Transmission: TN54E(1500hp upgrade)

Suspension: 3rd generation Horstmann Hydrogas

Armour: Dorchester Base Armour, 55mm Hull Add-On,  Potential for the Level 2G Add-On kit.

Suggested Stock and Final Setups:

 

Sources:

Catherine MP LW specification Sheet:

Announcement for TISP and Supplier:

https://www.janes.com/amp/thales-uk-supplying-new-ti-camera-for-challenger-2-tanks/ZnlJK3dHVU9mZ28xajRJVkc5dVI5VFp1cVMwPQ2

Contract for TISP:

https://ted.europa.eu/TED/notice/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:500141-2017:TEXT:EN:HTML&WT.mc_id=RSS-Feed&WT.rss_f=Materials+and+Products&WT.rss_a=500141-2017&WT.rss_ev=a

TN54E Spec Sheet:

HAAIP Announcement:

https://des.mod.uk/challenger-2-vehicles-upgrade-programme/

Confirmation of a Power Increase:

Thank you to NatabruBusher/Sherman and Pyro for helping with this post.

Edited April 10, 2023 by Fireball_2020

[kleinerPanzer 648]

Open for discussion 

[eleks12 1,079]

So from what i understand it's a suggestion to add another regular Challenger 2 with minor stopgab upgrades before getting the Challenger 3 with the L55.

 

Sure why not. Could fill some BR hulls in the UK Tree.

 

+1

[NaTaBRu6k_Busher 1]

Massive improvement to the soft factors using an existing vehicle, can't wait to see you adding this to your lineup!

[Fireball_2020 467]

11 hours ago, eleks12 said:

So from what i understand it's a suggestion to add another regular Challenger 2 with minor stopgab upgrades before getting the Challenger 3 with the L55.

 

Sure why not. Could fill some BR hulls in the UK Tree.

 

+1

In theory it should improve the vehicle in every way except Lethality.

[Milocat 4,857]

+1 with other full-modern tanks.  

[memer4life9000@psn 36]

+1 for more Challys, though I think Gaijin should consider foldering the 2F and TES variants with the stock version before they add any more, and then have this come either before or after the Black Knight.

[duckmartin 1,889]

+1 Yes please I definitely agree on this !!

[oom1992 649]

+ At least producer & developer got new idea new main battle tank top tier for great britain tech tree in the future

I think Challenger 2 (2022) counterpart Leopard 2A7, T-90M, M1A2 SEPv3, M1A1 FEP and Leclerc XLR

Edited November 27, 2022 by oom1992

[MajorFooFoo 226]

+1 from me. Though if it were added and not put in a folder with a few other CR2s I might actually have a stroke. 

[_Froge_ 30]

Sadly I don't think I've seen any confirmation of the actual horsepower, QRH saying that it's not a "major power uplift" kind of makes me think the upgrades won't be giving 25% more horsepower. Plus there's been no mention of top speed since the initial CR3 press release and the mph gaffe, so we I don't think we can guesstimate based on that either.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this, but I'd rather get the less ambiguous CR2E first as an extension to the export line and a more mobile option, as well as a firepower upgrade in the form of Rhm's LEP demonstrator and a folder for the (2F) and TES variants.

[Fireball_2020 467]

10 hours ago, SentinelXCIX said:

Sadly I don't think I've seen any confirmation of the actual horsepower, QRH saying that it's not a "major power uplift" kind of makes me think the upgrades won't be giving 25% more horsepower. Plus there's been no mention of top speed since the initial CR3 press release and the mph gaffe, so we I don't think we can guesstimate based on that either.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this, but I'd rather get the less ambiguous CR2E first as an extension to the export line and a more mobile option, as well as a firepower upgrade in the form of Rhm's LEP demonstrator and a folder for the (2F) and TES variants.

We also had a supposed worker at Cat who said it runs at 1500ps. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest this is true, given the changes to the engine. 

Edited December 1, 2022 by Fireball_2020

[_Froge_ 30]

7 hours ago, Fireball_2020 said:

We also had a supposed worker at Cat who said it runs at 1500ps. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest this is true, given the changes to the engine. 

There was an interview a few years ago where a CAT spokesperson said that an upgrade to 1500hp was one of the options being made available to the MoD, but as you'd probably expect there's been no mention of it since. It'd be great if we can get actual confirmation of the engine power but until then I stand by what I said.

[Fireball_2020 467]

3 minutes ago, SentinelXCIX said:

There was an interview a few years ago where a CAT spokesperson said that an upgrade to 1500hp was one of the options being made available to the MoD, but as you'd probably expect there's been no mention of it since. It'd be great if we can get actual confirmation of the engine power but until then I stand by what I said.

Well we know there is a power increase of some kind, we also know the rpm has increased by 50 to produce a speed of 60km/h. The standard CV12 1200hp cv-12 off above the, the 1500hp variant increases up to around 2350rpm. I see it as quite logical, but I would love to see an official confirmation, I have searched to the ends of the earth for one.

[Fireball_2020 467]

25 minutes ago, SentinelXCIX said:

There was an interview a few years ago where a CAT spokesperson said that an upgrade to 1500hp was one of the options being made available to the MoD, but as you'd probably expect there's been no mention of it since. It'd be great if we can get actual confirmation of the engine power but until then I stand by what I said.

Bear in mind the contract says the engine will be upgraded to the most recent specification too.

[Rambolf 371]

Hows the commanders sight still NVD?

[RMS_TITANIC 14]

9 minutes ago, Rambolf said:

Hows the commanders sight still NVD?

because the only thermal sight on cr2 is the big box on top of the gun

[Fireball_2020 467]

15 hours ago, Rambolf said:

Hows the commanders sight still NVD?

Yes, however the commander has access to the RWS Thermal sight.

[Rambolf 371]

Whats the 2G addon?

[Fireball_2020 467]

On 09/12/2022 at 22:02, Rambolf said:

Whats the 2G addon?

The Image listed as Final Setup above, it’s a TES kit but without the further ERA sidearmour on top.

Edited February 4, 2023 by Fireball_2020

[굴러온 310]

 

Now QRH saids new engine performs around 1500 hp.

[Fireball_2020 467]

17 hours ago, glown2307 said:

 

Now QRH saids new engine performs around 1500 hp.

Excellent!

[Fireball_2020 467]

19 hours ago, glown2307 said:

 

Now QRH saids new engine performs around 1500 hp.

Likely 1500PS which is what an older source from a CAT worker said. 

[Fireball_2020 467]

On 30/11/2022 at 22:14, SentinelXCIX said:

Sadly I don't think I've seen any confirmation of the actual horsepower, QRH saying that it's not a "major power uplift" kind of makes me think the upgrades won't be giving 25% more horsepower. Plus there's been no mention of top speed since the initial CR3 press release and the mph gaffe, so we I don't think we can guesstimate based on that either.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this, but I'd rather get the less ambiguous CR2E first as an extension to the export line and a more mobile option, as well as a firepower upgrade in the form of Rhm's LEP demonstrator and a folder for the (2F) and TES variants.

It’s now been confirmed.

[VatnikWrangler22 325]

+1 I think this is a good idea!

 

However could it not be more logical to simply add it as an upgrade modification to all (or at least the more modern) Challenger 2's already ingame instead of as it's own vehicle? 

 

It could be done in a similar way to the T72B3 where it has the UBH modification which gives it a new engine. You start off with 1200hp and then when unlocking the HAAIP modification the engine ingame is uprated to 1500hp. According to Janes 6 tanks have already been upgraded as of January last year.

 

This would mean instead of having one new faster Challenger 2, we could have all of the existing models with this upgrade. less work for gaijin and a even larger buff to the British top tier.

Edited January 10, 2023 by BruhliusMomentus