Military chiefs say Britain will have the world’s most advanced tanks amid fears the Army does not have enough fire power. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the Daily Express that talks were under way to provide more than 148 Challenger 3 tanks.
Mr Wallace spoke as he and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly watched Australian troops train Ukrainian forces at a UK location.The Ministry of Defence is planning to phase out 79 of the 229 Challenger 2 tanks. The remaining 148 will receive new guns and armour.
Defence chiefs believe the upgraded fighting machines will be the most advanced in the world. Concern is growing that Britain does not have enough firepower after giving 14 tanks and scores of artillery rocket systems to Kyiv.
Mr Wallace said: “We’ve gifted 14, I will replace those. I’ll also increase the number of Challenger 3s, subject to negotiations with contractors.
“I’ll see to increase the number of Challenger 3 upgrades as well.”
Around 40,000 Ukrainians will undergo training in Britain for five weeks this year, before they go back to the front line.
