The Army is set to receive 148 Challenger 3s, with the upgraded tanks expected to begin entering service next year.

10:58, Mon, Aug 3, 2026 Updated: 11:00, Mon, Aug 3, 2026

Challenger 3

Nearly 150 Challenger 3 tanks are being delivered to the British Army (Image: Getty)

The British Army is facing a “woeful” shortage of new tanks and armoured vehicles, a former chief has warned. Lord Richard Dannatt said the Army’s armoured 3rd (UK) Division will have an “insufficient” number of Challenger 3 main battle tanks.

The Army is set to get 148 Challenger 3s, upgraded from existing Challenger 2s currently operated by troops. The enhanced tanks, which include a new 120mm smoothbore gun, are expected to begin entering service next year. Lord Dannatt, who was Chief of the General Staff between 2006 and 2009, warned 3rd (UK) Division’s “equipment shortfalls are woeful”.

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Challenger 2

Many of the Army's Challenger 2 tanks are being upgraded to Challenger 3s (Image: Getty)

The former Army chief, writing in a foreword to a report by UK-US think tank 878, added: “Andy Burnham may promise us the best social care system in the world, but what is the value of good care if we are not fundamentally secure? Priorities, Prime Minister – that is your job, not wishful thinking.”

According to The Telegraph, the report by 878 highlighted “gaps” in the military.

It warned 3rd (UK) Division would be “under strength” by 42 tanks and also highlighted concerns around the new Boxer armoured vehicle.

The report said “only 100 out of 623 platforms” have been delivered, warning this could cause a “significant capability gap as Warrior is phased out with no operational replacement”.

They are being replaced by drones in what marks a significant shift in how British forces have reinforced the alliance’s eastern border with Russia.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the move reflects lessons learned from the war in Ukraine where drones have become the defining weapon of the conflict, while tanks have suffered heavy losses.

In Labour’s long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, it claimed tanks “remain essential” to modern warfare, ensuring land forces can “seize or defend ground in all environments and conditions”.

The MoD has not commented on the report.