Ukraine Allocates Scarce Challenger 2 Tanks to Kursk Offensive - Lancet Drone Claims First Kill

Footage released on August 15 has confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have deployed Challenger 2 main battle tanks to support their ongoing offensive in the Russian Kursk region, which began nine days prior on August 6. Fourteen of the vehicles were delivered in March 2023, and were subsequently operated by the Ukrainian Army ’s 82nd Air Assault Brigade, although two were reportedly neutralised in combat before the end of the year. Challenger 2s were for months held back in reserve, and made their first appearance on the frontlines against Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine in June 2023. The Challenger 2 is the only new tank class to enter service in the Western world since the end of the Cold War, and boasts armour protection that is widely considered world leading. Its fire controls and in particular its sensors, however, are increasingly seen to be out of date, most notably its old first generation thermal sights. The tank also still uses a rifled rather than a smoothbore gun, and is the last in the world to do so, with Soviet tanks having transitioned to smoothbore guns in 1961 followed by German and American tanks in 1979-1980, which has many significant disadvantages in terms of firepower. 

Unlike M1A1 Abrams tanks delivered by the United States, which have been downgraded for Ukrainian use, Challenger 2s were taken directly from British Army stockpiles to equip the Ukrainian Army. This initially contributed to high hopes in the Western world regarding their performances. Nevertheless, the vehicles began to take losses very quickly after engaging in combat, with footage in the first week of September 2023 confirming the destruction of the first tank. A second tank was also reported but not confirmed to have been destroyed that month. The fact that the first tank was deserted by a Kornet man portable anti tank weapon, rather than heavier ordinance, boded ill for the class’ survivability, with Challenger 2s reported to have subsequently been withdrawn from frontline operations.

Footage released on August 15 has confirmed the destruction of at least one Challenger 2 tank participating in the Kursk offensive. It remains uncertain how many of the British made tanks are participating, and if so how many losses have been taken. The assault has seen many of Ukraine’s most capable assets allocated to operations, with the potential for their destruction when at the end of long supply lines and overwhelmed by Russian forces being increasingly seen to have the potential to turn the tide of the war further against Ukraine’s favour. The tank was destroyed using a low-flying Russian Lancet 3 single use drone near Sudzha. The drone strike caused the ammunition to detonate, destroying the tank beyond repair. The footage comes as drone strikes and precision guided artillery have emerged as preferred means for neutralising Ukrainian-operated tanks, with an American M1A1 Abrams having just four days prior been filmed being destroyed by a similar Lancet drone strike. Such strikes have also taken out well over a dozen Ukrainian armoured vehicles in Kursk, and according to some estimates several dozen, including multiple tanks.