Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced that it has been awarded a contract by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) to provide its turret drive stabilization technology for use in the weapons system on the British Army’s Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank. Under the contract, valued at approximately $25 million, Curtiss-Wright will supply RBSL with its cost-effective, scalable Turret Drive Servo System (TDSS) and other system components in support of the UK MOD’s tank upgrade program. Curtiss-Wright’s TDSS aiming and stabilization system will provide the Challenger 3 with the ability to maintain target location accuracy and precise turret stabilization, even while moving at full speed. The TDSS uniquely enables system designers to upgrade and add stabilization functionality as mission requirements change, allowing system integrators to choose the right level of motion control and stability for the platform.
“The turret motion system provided by Curtiss-Wright will be fundamental to the operation of the tank, and our two companies have worked closely together for several years to ensure Challenger 3 would benefit from this impressive capability,” said Dr Marco Noeding, RBSL Managing Director. “We are very pleased to achieve this latest milestone and look forward to commencing the next phase of our relationship through the demonstration, manufacture and through-life.”
“Curtiss-Wright’s selection on this significant ground vehicle upgrade program highlights RBSL’s trust in Curtiss-Wright’s turret drive stabilization technology and exemplifies our position as a leader in aiming and stabilization solutions to the global defense industry,” said Lynn M. Bamford, President and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. “Furthermore, our defense electronics technology brings new levels of stability, reliability and high-precision motion control to the ground vehicle market. We look forward to continuing our support of RBSL’s development of the Challenger 3 program.”
Challenger 3 (CR3) is a planned third generation[citation needed] British main battle tank in development for the British Army. It will be produced by conversion of existing Challenger 2 tanks by the British/German Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land joint venture. The British Army’s upgraded Challenger 3 vehicle will be a network-enabled, digital Main Battle Tank with state-of-the-art lethality, upgraded survivability, and world-class surveillance and target acquisition capabilities. The new turret structure and improved survivability systems provide the highest standard of protection for the crew. The long-range commander and gunner primary sights will include automatic target detection and acquisition. This solution also provides significant growth potential in all Main Battle Tank key capability areas with the new physical, electronic and electrical architecture.
