Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Challenger 2 main battle tanks are expected to go through the Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme.

The Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank remains a key capability for the British Army in the Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 and Joint Force 2025 plans. As such the Ministry of Defence is investing £53 million in the assessment phase of a Life Extension Programme with further funding allocated for a demonstration and manufacture phase.

The Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme (C2LEP) is within the assessment phase and until the main investment point is reached, no decision will be made on the number of Challenger 2 tanks that will go through the C2LEP.