Ukraine eyes British military cast-offs amid primary equipment phase out

In Ukraine, there's growing interest in the military equipment Great Britain plans to decommission by 2030. A list detailing such equipment, which includes many systems potentially beneficial to the Ukrainian army, has been published. Here, we delve into the specifics of these weapons.

Great Britain is a leading global military force, particularly its navy and air force. However, its ground equipment has notable shortcomings. The quest for advanced armaments abroad, coupled with domestic ventures like the Challenger 3 tank, indicates that by 2030, several current systems will be retired from the British Army's inventory.

According to Militarnyj, a Ukrainian portal, this information comes straight from a British Ministry of Defense representative during a recent parliamentary discussion. Hence, the details are based on official statements rather than speculation.

Over the next few years, Great Britain plans to phase out a variety of equipment, including numerous Challenger 2 tanks, AS90 self-propelled artillery systems, Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, BV206 and Wolfhound armoured transporters, Mastiff Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and Jackal and Ridgback reconnaissance vehicles. Stocks of Stormer HVM air defence systems, L118 105 mm guns, and Puma transport helicopters will also be decommissioned.

As one of Ukraine's largest allies, Great Britain has supplied considerable equipment to support the country's defence against Russia. Ukrainian forces are already using some of the mentioned systems.

Notably, deploying dozens of Challenger 2 tanks has garnered significant attention. Introduced in 1994 as a third-generation main battle tank, the Challenger 2 is celebrated for its robust Chobham/Dorchester armour, making it one of the safest tanks worldwide at its launch. It continues to excel in protection. Equipped with two 7.62 mm calibre machine guns and a 120 mm calibre rifled L30A1 cannon, Ukrainian troops have lauded these vehicles for their superiority over older Soviet-era tanks.

In Ukraine, the Stormer HVM air defence systems are also proving effective. These self-propelled units can engage targets up to 4.3 miles away and at altitudes up to 3.1 miles. The AS90 self-propelled artillery systems, firing 155 mm calibre shells, pose a serious challenge for adversarial forces, with the ability to strike targets up to 15.5 miles away and a 6 rounds per minute firing rate. They also feature MRSI (multiple round simultaneous impact) capability.

A reminder from "The Times" last year highlighted that between 2010-2014, the British government discreetly scrapped over 40 Challenger 2 tanks, believing the era of conventional warfare in Europe was over. This operation reportedly cost four million pounds. However, circumstances suggest a departure from such a scenario for various reasons.