Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on the Challenger 3 programme.

The Armour Main Battle Tank programme will deliver Challenger 3.

The programme has now delivered four prototypes, with four more currently in build, trials have already proven Challenger 3’s basic firing capability, mechanical design, and structural strength. The next set of trials are due to start in Quarter 2 2025.

Among the improvements underway which will significantly enhance Challenger 3’s performance over Challenger 2, the programme is working under a bilateral UK/Germany agreement to qualify Enhanced Kinetic Energy ammunition.