UK considers possibility of supplying Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks

Sky News reported this with reference to its sources.

A Western source familiar with the negotiations said that “for several weeks” there have been discussions about supplying Ukraine's Armed Forces with a certain number of the Challenger 2 main battle tank.

Such a move would mark a significant increase in Western support for Ukraine and could prompt other NATO allies, particularly Germany, to follow suit.

In particular, one source suggested that the UK could offer about 10 Challenger 2 tanks.

The source also said that it would not be a game-changer in itself, but would still be huge, as the move would overcome a barrier that has so far prevented allies from offering Western tanks to Ukraine for fear that it would be perceived as an over-escalation.

“It would encourage others to give tanks,” a Ukrainian source said.

It is also noted that the government of Rishi Sunak has not yet made a final decision, but if the UK agrees to such a supply, it will become the first country to respond to the Ukrainian leaders' request to equip its army with powerful Western tanks.

The UK Ministry of Defense does not confirm or deny that the British government is considering the possibility of supplying tanks to Ukraine.

“We have provided over 200 armored vehicles to Ukraine to date - including Stormer vehicles armed with Starstreak missiles. We have also donated tens of thousands of items including helmets and body armor, mobility and logistics vehicles, anti-tank weapons, air defense missiles and systems, winter and medical equipment,” the message says. 

Last year, the UK sent 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Poland as part of an aid deal for Ukraine, freeing up capacity for Warsaw, which was able to transfer its Soviet T-72 tanks to Kyiv.

The Challenger 2 tank has been in service with the British Army since 1994. It weighs 62.5 tons and is armed with a 120 mm rifled gun and a 7.62 mm chain gun.

Currently, a group of Challenger tanks is in Estonia as part of the NATO mission in Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression. The Challenger 2 was previously used in Bosnia and during the 2003 Iraq War.

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