IAV 2026: Challenger 3 MBT conducts first crewed live firing

The Challenger 3 MBT has conducted its first crewed live firing. (RBSL)

The British Army's future Challenger 3 main battle tank (MBT) conducted its first crewed live firing in Scotland, Janes learnt on the first day of Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2026 conference held in Farnborough from 20 to 22 January. It was the first crewed live firing in the United Kingdom for over 30 years.

Later on 20 January, the UK's Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation and Rheinmetall announced the live firing, saying it was part of the progressive assurance of the tank's capabilities and systems before it enters service following a carefully phased programme, beginning with remote operation before progressing to crewed firing by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) personnel. DE&S and Rheinmetall noted that the Challenger 3 is equipped with the German company's L55A1 120 mm smoothbore gun that fires kinetic energy anti-tank rounds and programmable multi-purpose ammunition.

They said the firing would be followed by further trials of the Challenger 3. A total of 148 of the tanks, including eight prototypes, will be produced by RBSL under a contract worth over GBP800 million (USD1 billion). The Challenger 3's initial operational capability is planned for November 2027 and full operational capability for November 2030.