Editing Challenger 2 (section)

===Later developments and possible replacement===
The Challenger 2 entered service with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, with the last delivered in 2002. After the [[Army 2020]] restructuring, only three Challenger 2 Tank Regiments will remain: the [[Queen's Royal Hussars]], the King's Royal Hussars and the [[Royal Tank Regiment]], each of which is the tank regiment of an Armoured Infantry Brigade. A single [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] regiment, [[The Royal Wessex Yeomanry]], will provide reservist Challenger crews to the regular regiments.

The Trojan minefield breaching vehicle and the Titan bridge-laying vehicle based on the chassis of the Challenger 2 were shown in November 2006. Sixty-six are to be supplied by BAE Systems to the [[Royal Engineers]], at a cost of £250&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.armedforces.co.uk/projects/raq3f54d8aee2e57 Trojan and Titan Armoured Engineer Vehicles] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002301/http://www.armedforces.co.uk/projects/raq3f54d8aee2e57 |date=4 March 2016}} armedforces.co.uk</ref>

A British military document from 2001 indicated that the British Army would not procure a replacement for the Challenger 2 because of a lack of foreseeable conventional threats in the future.<ref name="Challenger 2 last">{{cite book |title=Gender, War, and Militarism: Feminist Perspectives |year=2010 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-39143-9 |page=40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=om3yy1JoS34C&q=%22Main+battle+tank%22 |author1=Laura Sjoberg |author2=Sandra Via |author3=Cynthia Enloe |access-date=3 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101183946/http://books.google.com/books?id=om3yy1JoS34C&vq=isbn&dq=%22Main+battle+tank%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s |archive-date=1 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[IHS Jane's 360]] reported in September 2015 that following discussions with senior Army officers and procurement officials at DSEI 2015 and the head of the British Army, [[Nick Carter (British Army officer)|General Sir Nick Carter]], that the British Army was looking at either upgrading the Challenger 2 or outright replacing it. Sources confirmed that the future of the MBT was being considered at the highest levels of the Army.<ref name="janes">{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/54672/dsei-2015-british-army-considers-new-mbt-in-response-to-russia-s-armata |title=Janes &#124; Latest defence and security news |access-date=21 September 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501233926/http://www.janes.com/article/54672/dsei-2015-british-army-considers-new-mbt-in-response-to-russia-s-armata |archive-date=1 May 2016}}</ref>

This stemmed from the British Army's concern with the new Russian [[T-14 Armata]] main battle tank and the growing ineffectiveness of the ageing L30 rifled gun and the limited types of ammunition supported. It was confirmed that numerous armoured vehicle manufacturers had discussions with the MoD about a potential replacement for the Challenger 2.<ref name="janes"/> Shortly after, the British Army decided that purchasing a new tank would be too expensive and chose to proceed with the Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP).<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/land/vehicles/2015/10/11/uk-army-extend-life-challenger-2-new-tank-too-costly/73410010/ UK Army To Extend Life of Challenger 2; New Tank Too Costly ]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} - Defensenews.com, 11 October 2015</ref> The Challenger 2 is expected to remain in service until 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gizmag.com/bae-systems-britain-main-ballte-tank/43713/ |title=BAE Systems bid provides glimpse into the future of Britain's battle tanks |work=Gizmag |author=David Szondy |date=7 June 2016 |access-date=8 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609114830/http://www.gizmag.com/bae-systems-britain-main-ballte-tank/43713/ |archive-date=9 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 2010 and 2014, 43 Challenger 2 tanks were disposed of as "beyond any economic repair".<ref name=times-20230730>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/mod-destroyed-challenger-tanks-that-could-have-gone-to-ukraine-hklr9wpv6 |title=MoD destroyed Challenger tanks that could have gone to Ukraine |last=Greenwood |first=George |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |url-access=subscription |date=30 July 2023 |access-date=18 August 2023}}</ref>

The maintenance contract [[Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land#Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (C2 LEP)|was let sometime in 2021]].
{{As of|2022}} maintenance and overhaul of the Challenger 2 is undertaken by the [[Babcock Defence Support Group]]. Design authority for the tank is held by [[Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land]] (RBSL). Engineering work is to be completed by RBSL and integration work by Babcock.<ref name=amu/> This complicated two-part project is [[#Upgrades|detailed below]]. The initial operating capability for the upgraded [[Challenger 3]] tanks is expected by 2027.<ref name=dnci/>

In May 2021, the UK MoD published a [[command paper]] entitled ''[[Defence in a Competitive Age]]''. In it, the MoD proposed to retire 79 tanks from the current fleet of 227, with the remaining 148 vehicles upgraded to Challenger 3 status.<ref>{{cite book |date=March 2021 |title=Defence in a Competitive Age |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971859/_CP_411__-_Defence_in_a_competitive_age.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |isbn=978-1-5286-2462-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322183107/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/971859/_CP_411__-_Defence_in_a_competitive_age.pdf |archive-date=22 March 2021}}</ref>