Exclusive: Rheinmetall Demonstrates Challenger 3 Tank's Firepower Against Russian T-72B3 in Live-Fire Test.

In a stunning demonstration of firepower, German Company Rheinmetall has showcased the destructive capabilities of the new L55 caliber 120 mm smoothbore gun mounted on the Challenger 3 main battle tank, designed for the British Army. According to military expert Nicholas Drummond, who shared the news on his X (formerly Twitter) account, the test involved using a real Russian T-72B3 tank as the target, simulating a real-world battlefield scenario.
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New Challenger 3 main battle tank prototype at DVD 2024, defense exhibition in Millbrook, United Kingdom. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The L55 smoothbore gun, known for its enhanced range and accuracy, fired a DM63 APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) round against the Russian T-72B3 tank. The results were devastating. The round penetrated the tank’s glacis plate—its heavily armored front slope—punched through the crew compartment, tore through the engine block, and exited the rear of the vehicle. This level of penetration demonstrates the lethality of the Challenger 3’s armament against modern armor, especially against Russian tanks, which are frequently encountered in conflict zones.

The L55 gun is a 120mm smoothbore cannon developed by German Company Rheinmetall as an upgraded version of the L44, designed primarily for main battle tanks like the Leopard 2A6. It features a longer barrel compared to its predecessor, which improves muzzle velocity and enhances the gun's overall accuracy, range, and armor-piercing capability. This increased length allows the L55 to fire more advanced and powerful kinetic energy rounds, making it more effective against modern armored threats.

Initially introduced to equip the Leopard 2A6 and subsequent variants, the L55 has been adopted by several NATO countries. Its improved performance allows tanks to engage targets at greater distances with higher precision and increased penetration power, making it a crucial advancement in tank armament, particularly against heavily armored opponents.

The DM63 APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) is a modern kinetic energy tank round developed by Rheinmetall for 120mm smoothbore guns, such as those found on the Leopard 2 and other NATO tanks. It is designed to penetrate advanced armor by using a long, dense tungsten penetrator that discards its outer sabot upon firing, allowing the dart-like core to maintain speed and accuracy. The DM63 features a temperature-independent propellant, ensuring consistent performance in varying climates, and is optimized for use with both the L44 and L55 guns, offering enhanced penetration power against modern armored threats.

The T-72B3 tank is a modernized version of the Soviet-era T-72 MBT (Main Battle Tank), designed to enhance its capabilities and keep it relevant on the modern battlefield. The tank has seen extensive use in Ukraine, where it is one of the most common armored vehicles employed by Russian forces. Its durability, ease of production, and various upgrades have made it a staple in Russia's armored fleet.

The armor on the T-72B3 is a combination of composite and reactive technologies, intended to provide protection against a wide range of modern anti-tank weapons. The base armor of the T-72B3 is composed of composite materials, which combine layers of steel with non-metallic substances, such as ceramics. This setup improves the tank’s resistance to kinetic energy penetrators, such as armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds, as well as high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, which rely on explosive force to punch through armor.

In addition to the composite armor, the T-72B3 is equipped with explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks, typically the Kontakt-5 system. These ERA blocks are placed on the tank's turret and hull and work by detonating upon impact, disrupting the penetrating jet or projectile from a HEAT round or significantly reducing the effectiveness of kinetic energy rounds. The combination of ERA and composite armor gives the T-72B3 considerable protection against the most common threats on the battlefield, although it is still vulnerable to modern anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and advanced APFSDS rounds.

Despite these upgrades, the T-72B3's armor is not on par with the latest Western tanks, such as the Challenger 3 or the M1A2 Abrams, which feature more advanced composite armor arrays and reactive systems. In tests like the one conducted by Rheinmetall, the Challenger 3's 120 mm L55 cannon with the DM63 APFSDS round was able to penetrate the T-72B3, highlighting its vulnerabilities when facing cutting-edge Western armor-piercing technology.

German Company Rheinmetall’s demonstration underscores the strategic advantage the Challenger 3 will bring to the British Army, offering enhanced firepower, mobility, and survivability. The tank is part of the UK's broader effort to modernize its armored forces, ensuring they remain a formidable force on the battlefield.

This live-fire test not only highlights the effectiveness of modern Western tank technology against Russian designs but also provides a clear signal of the Challenger 3’s battlefield dominance in future conflicts. With this demonstration, the Challenger 3 is poised to become one of the most powerful tanks in NATO’s arsenal.