British armies ready to do without their Challenger 2 tanks to specialize in support

It has been several years since the fate of some 227 Challenger 2 tanks, of which 160 are in service, and of the 388 Warrior Infantry fighting vehicles in the British armies, was under threat. It seems that today, the savings required facing the Covid19 crisis, as well as the ongoing developments in the geostrategic theaters, ended up sealing the fate of tanks of the first armed force in the world which implemented this type of weaponry.

Indeed, in an article that appeared today, the British daily "The Times", announces that the country's authorities would be ready to mothball the country's entire fleet of heavy tanks and tracked infantry fighting vehicles, and to specialize the British armies in support functions, such as close air support thanks to its AH64 Apache helicopters, logistical support thanks to its CH47 Chinooks, as well as cyber support.

The British project is far from meaningless. Due to its island configuration, the United Kingdom is not in the best position to quickly deploy heavy armored units if a crisis in Europe were to arise. Furthermore, for the same reasons, the country is much less likely to be threatened by a heavy armored force itself.

At the same time, and as the overseas operations in which British forces have participated over the past 15 years show, it is precisely these support capabilities, but also air strike and naval power, that are most often required from London allies.

Thus, the Royal Air Force's CH47 Chinooks provide more than welcome mobility capabilities to the French forces deployed as part of Operation Barkhane in Mali.

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