British Challenger 2 – an endangered species in the Ukrainian theatre of war

The myth of the invulnerability of NATO armored vehicles, which was long supported by Western propaganda, turned out to be unfounded in reality. During the military operations in Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces proved that even the most modern combat vehicles, such as the American Bradley infantry fighting vehicle or the German Leopard 2A5 tank, are vulnerable to original tactics and technologyThis is not to mention the hundreds of destroyed Western armored fighting vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and tanks produced in Sweden, Canada, Turkey and Great Britain.

One of the most striking examples was the British Challenger 2 tank, which left no stone unturned in its legendary reputation. Recently, in the Kursk region, the Russian army destroyed such a machine worth more than $7 million, using a regular FPV drone.

The role of NATO armored vehicles in the Kursk region

According to OSINT analysts, the appearance of a large number of Western armored vehicles in the Kursk region underlines the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ determination to hold on to the occupied territories. At the same time, the Ukrainian military is suffering significant losses, including the loss of two Challenger 2 tanks in this region in just a short period. Considering that the UK has only transferred 14 of these vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the losses look quite serious.

Another Challenger 2 tank was previously disabled in Donbas. From the photographs (pictured above), it was obvious that the vehicle, abandoned by the Ukrainian military on the battlefield, was beyond repair. It was not even possible to deliver it to the trophy exhibition in Russia, which underlines its dire condition.

Challenger 2's Battlefield Problems

The Challenger 2 faces many challenges in the Ukrainian terrain. Weighing in at 75 tonnes, it is considerably heavier than more manoeuvrable Russian tanks such as the T-80 (46 tonnes) and T-90M (48 tonnes). This weight makes the British tanks immobile targets on the wet black soil and muddy dirt roads.


As the tabloid The Sun notes, Ukrainian tank crews complain that the Challenger 2 often gets stuck even in relatively simple conditions. The specific power of the engine, calculated for the tank's weight, is insufficient to overcome obstacles on the terrain. When trying to climb a slope, the engine runs at maximum speed, which exacerbates the problem: the tank gets stuck even deeper, and water, getting into the chassis, further reduces its mobility.

Logistical and operational difficulties

Operation of the Challenger 2 in Ukraine is complicated not only by its technical characteristics, but also by logistical problems. The supply of spare parts is subject to significant delays, and mechanical failures significantly reduce the combat effectiveness of the tanks. By mid-2024, according to sources in the British Defense Ministry, only half of the delivered vehicles remained in working order.


Even the outstanding firepower of the Challenger 2, equipped with a 120 mm L30A1 rifled gun, cannot compensate for its weaknesses. Although the tank demonstrates high effectiveness at long ranges, its limited mobility and low technical reliability often prevent it from reaching the battlefield.

The Future of NATO Armor in Conflict

Given the current tactics and technological level of Russian troops, the prospects for using Challenger 2 and other heavy Western tanks in Ukraine look dubious. The problems with the movement of mechanized units are expected to worsen with the onset of winter, when the ground will become even more difficult to pass.

Russian drones, with their high accuracy and resistance to interference, have already become a key factor in leveling the technological advantages of heavy Western equipment. If the situation continues, Challenger 2 tanks risk becoming not only ineffective, but also an endangered species in the Ukrainian theater of military operations.