UK decision significant if other allies followpublished at 12:17 Greenwich Mean Time 14 January 2023
Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent
Britain has not yet officially confirmed the number of tanks it will be sending to Ukraine, but it’s believed to be about a dozen Challenger 2’s.
The decision could be significant, but only if other Western nations follow.
On its own it’s unlikely to make a big difference in the war. Ukraine says it needs hundreds more tanks and armoured vehicles to retake the territories still held by Russia.
Tanks are seen as key for offensive military operations – if used with the support of artillery, airpower and infantry to seize ground. But without that support they can also prove easy targets.
The British Army’s Challenger 2 is more than 20 years old, but it will still be the most modern tank the Ukrainians will field in battle.
They’ll provide Ukrainian tank crews with better protection, and more accurate firepower.
The Challenger, built in the late 1990s, was originally designed to face Russian armour. But it's rifled barrel means it uses different ammunition to NATO countries.
Poland has said it’s willing to send Ukraine 14 of its German-made Leopard tanks, which are in greater supply and used by a number of European Armies.
However, Germany still needs to give its approval for the re-export to Ukraine. It hasn’t so far, but is under pressure to do so.
Nor, so far, has the US supplied any of its Abrams tanks – which use the same ammunition as the Leopard. Both will be needed to make up the numbers Ukraine says it needs.
The UK’s contribution is certainly not a game-changer. But it does cross a significant psychological line.
Until now western nations have been reluctant to provide Ukraine with its most modern tanks. But western military support has slowly evolved from only providing weapons for defensive purposes – to more sophisticated weaponry. More tanks in significant numbers will help Ukraine.
