The main British battle tank Challenger 2 was designed by the Vickers Defence Systems in 1988.
The Challenger 2 is one of the most heavily armoured and best protected tanks in the world. The turret and hull are protected by second generation of Chobham armour, which is said to be more than twice as strong as steel.
The tank's drive system provides a 550 km range, with a maximum road speed of 59 km/h. It has a four-man crew.
The Challenger 2 is equipped with a 120-millimetre 55-calibre long L30A1 tank gun. It is also armed with a L94A1 EX-34 7.62 mm chain gun and a 7.62 mm L37A2 (GPMG) machine gun. Forty nine main armament rounds and 4,200 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition are carried.
The Challenger 2 had been used in peacekeeping missions and exercises before, but its first combat use came in March 2003 during the invasion of Iraq.
To date, the only weapon to do any serious damage to a Challenger 2 was another Challenger 2 tank in a 'blue on blue' (friendly fire) incident, that being the only time the tank has ever been seriously damaged during operations.
The Challenger 2 is in service with the British Army and the Royal Army of Oman.