Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1446249
Brexit made many matters very com- plicated. We experienced those issu- es first hand, sending out the paper version of the Frag Out! magazine to London, and meeting the procedural chaos related to the shipping of the goods outside of the EU. Nobody cared about the fact that the copies were intended for free distribution at the event. The procedure exists, and one needs to execute it. The trip itself also suffered from COVID-re- strictions - we had to take a COVID test 48 hours after entering the UK. Fortunately, the tests turned out to be negative. If the results were po- sitive, we would have stayed in Lon- don for one more week. COVID restrictions were also impo- sed on the event itself. Fortunately, these were not a nuisance, and we could have focused on the job in so- mewhat comfortable conditions. Rheinmetall Challenger 3 is a prototype of a mo- dernized Challenger MBT showcased by the RBSL joint-venture (Rheinme- tall and BAE Systems Land). Thanks to the upgrade of 148 out of 227 Challengers, the fleet will still be re- levant until the year 2040. The whole program would cost 800 million po- unds. The new MBT is to be fitted with the RH120/L55A1 gun embedded in a modernized turret with reinforced ar- mor. The armor would also be chan- ged in the case of the front section of the hull. The MBT is also going to be fitted with the Trophy active pro- tection system. The MBTs are also going to receive a day/night-capable hunter-killer solution, night and ther- mal imaging systems by Thales, and a digital BMS. The engine would be replaced as well - by a 1500 HP MTU MB 873 engine and suspension. The MBT in question is going to receive a gen-3 hydropneumatic system. The Challenger was accompanied by a modular BOXER APC in a configu- ration featuring the MWS 81 semi- -automatic mortar system. MWS-120 mortar may also be used here. The digits refer to the caliber. The mortar lays down fire through the opening roof cover and is fitted with electro- nic targeting-support systems, and a BMS solution, along with a modern comms suite. The BOXER vehicle was accompa- nied by a self-propelled howitzer with an AGM module, on the MX3 platform. A separate article in the present volume discusses the afore- said system. KMW KMW also presented the Boxer plat- form - fitted with an AGM module featuring a 155 mm/L52 howitzer, offering a rate of fire of up to 9 ro- unds per minute, named RCH 155. The vehicle can engage targets while on the move. In a stationary setting, 360-degrees coverage is available, and it takes just 10 seconds to swi- tch between ‚combat', and ‚mobile' settings. The platform can attack targets at distances ranging from 3.5 to 54 kilometers - the latter figu- re pertains to the VLAP projectiles. The available arsenal is also to inc- lude the Vulcano rounds (range of 70 kilometers), and Ramjet projectiles, capable of acting against targets 100 kilometers away. The vehicle is handled by a crew of www.fragoutmag.com