British Army Challenger 3 MBTs to get Curtiss-Wright aiming and stabilization system.

Curtiss-Wright on May 3 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.
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Initial Operating Capability for the Challenger 3 tank is expected in 2027. 148 Challenger 3 tanks will equip the British Army until 2040. (Picture source: RBSL)

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 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.”

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.”

The British Army’s upgraded Challenger 3 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's and gunner's 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.