The Challenger 2 StreetFighter Main Battle Tank (MBT) is the most modern version of the Challenger 2 Tank in British Army service. Which have originated from soldiers within the British Army Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), have been developed over many months. The StreetFighter has undergone a number of modifications; upgrades that have included patterned camouflage, additional weaponry and equipment that increases visibility. With project StreetFighter, the Royal Tank Regiment have been testing numerous innovative concepts on a Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank. The term “Street Fighter” is not the vehicles official designation, but rather a nickname amongst British tank crew. This upgraded Challenger 2 Tank was deployed to Iraq between 2007 to 2008.
If introduced, they could enhance its proficiency both on the battlefield as well as in the confines of an urban environment, particularly when working closely with infantry. The ideas, all of which have originated from soldiers within the Regiment, have been developed over many months. One of the new main features of the Challenger 2 Streetfighter is the integration of a launcher system mounted on the roof of the turret, able to fire an anti-tank guided missile. It s also equipped with the Iron Vision system allowing the crew to have 360° view outside, from inside of the tank. A Remote Weapons Station is also installed. This is controlled from within the vehicle and equipped with a thermal imaging camera and replaces the loaders L7, so he is not exposed to use it. It can be mounted with either a 7.62mm or 50 cal MG or 40mm GMG (grenade machine gun).
The latest jamming technology was also installed on the vehicle to counter detonation of road side IED. These included signal jammers and a form of false thermal imagery generation projected in front of the vehicle. This was done by a box fitted at the front of the hull on either side. Each box had a whip mount so the driver could see them. Challenger 2 Street Fighter used DL2 E: Retained the DL2B modules on the side of the turret, DL2 C front module, cage armor and both the backing board and spaced armor. The DL2 B hull modules are replaced with double layered ERA blocks. You can see that they stick out past the DL2 D spaced armor. They were added to defeat shaped charged IED daisy chain attacks and mean they can defeat tandem charged ATGM.
The FV4034 Challenger 2 (MOD designation “CR2”) is a third generation British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems (now known as BAE Systems Land & Armaments). Vickers Defence Systems began to develop a successor to Challenger 1 as a private venture in 1986. The main armament of the Challenger 2 MBT consists of a BAE Systems, RO Defence 120 mm rifled tank gun designated the L30A1. The turret incorporates second-generation Chobham armor, also called Dorchester with a significant increase in protection against both KE and CE attack. It can be also fitted with the Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) package to the front of the hull.
