£20 million contract advances Challenger 3 missile protection system
Trophy active protection systems will be trialled on Challenger 3 MBTs. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
A £20 million contract has been awarded to Rafael for Trophy active protection systems to be evaluated on UK Challenger 3 MBTs. Demonstrations and testing are set for 2024.
Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will provide Trophy active protection systems for evaluation and testing for missile protection on Challenger 3 MBTs for the British Army.
The £20 million ($26.2 million) contract follows the completion of three weeks of assessment phase trials where a representative Challenger 3 system dealt with a total of 25 shots, including live intercepts.
The new contract will see the purchase of Trophy systems and countermeasures and test equipment required for the qualification and integration activity planned for the upcoming demonstration phase.
Related Articles
AUSA 2017: US Army contracts for Abrams Trophy fielding
UK to integrate lightweight active protection systems on Challenger 3 tanks
UK rethinks tank fleet numbers as Challenger 3 project hits critical milestone
Trophy will be tested and integrated with a Challenger 3 to provide enhanced protection against rocket and missile threats, while simultaneously finding the origin of the hostile fire for immediate response.
The Challenger 3 is being manufactured by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) and is expected to enter service in 2027.
The Trophy demonstration phase is due to begin in 2024 and will be delivered by Rafael and RBSL as the design authority for the Challenger 3 tanks. The testing will occur at Rafael’s facility in Israel, and in UK test ranges.
RBSL was awarded the UK MoD's £800 million contract to upgrade 148 British Army Challenger 2s in May 2021. The upgraded Challenger 3s will be network-enabled, digital MBTs with state-of-the-art lethality, upgraded survivability and world-class surveillance and target acquisition capabilities.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Czech government developing a plan for air defence beyond 2030 alongside NATO integration]()
Czech government developing a plan for air defence beyond 2030 alongside NATO integration
The Czech Armed Forces is set to receive four Israeli-made SPYDER long-range missile defence systems, the first of which was delivered earlier this year. They will be a key part of the country’s multilayered air defence system.
-
![Bidders for Australia’s long-range fires requirement push development of offerings]()
Bidders for Australia’s long-range fires requirement push development of offerings
Lockheed Martin is competing against a joint Kongsberg and Thales team to meet Australia’s requirement for a land-based, long-range fires system to protect Australia’s northern approaches. Both bidders have announced recent developments on associated missiles.
-
![How do land and air defense forces defend against complex threats?]()
How do land and air defense forces defend against complex threats?
Learn how RTX systems defend against complex attacks from adversaries including hostile drones, and multi-range missiles.
-
![AUSA 2025: Hanwha Aerospace reveals new wheeled artillery system]()
AUSA 2025: Hanwha Aerospace reveals new wheeled artillery system
The aerospace company showed a model of its new mobile howitzer at AUSA in Washington, where a representative told Shephard more about its design.
