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Challenger 1
Photo: Simon Q from United Kingdom · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
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Challenger1

Tanks · United Kingdom · 1983
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Challenger1

Challenger 1
Challenger 1 Photo: Simon Q from United Kingdom · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Firepower
85
Protection
90
Mobility
75
Technology
70
Reliability
80
Crew Survivability
85
Operational Range
70
Logistics
60
Historical Performance
85
Strategic Impact
75
Origin United Kingdom
CategoryTanks
EraCold War
In service1983–1990
Operators4 countries
Quantity420
Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
79
Tanks MASS Rating
6/89
Cold War
15/563
All-Time
Tanks · 10 axes scored
Firepower
85
Protection
90
Mobility
75
Technology
70
Reliability
80
Crew Survivability
85
Operational Range
70
Logistics
60
Historical Performance
85
Strategic Impact
75
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the tanks category.
01 / Overview
Challenger 1
Category
Production
1983–1990
Quantity
420
Unit Price (current)
$5.5M↗ 183% inflation · 1987→2025
Original Price
$1.9M (1987)
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
TANKS · COLD WAR
6
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
70
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
$5.5M
Original: $1.9M (1987)
Inflation: +%183
79
tanks category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the tanks category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
◈Firepower9MOD.9
▣Protection5MOD.5
◇Mobility7MOD.7
  • Engine Power1,200 hp
  • Power-to-Weight Ratio19.35 hp/t
  • Fuel TypeDiesel
  • Transmission TypeHydromechanical
  • Suspension TypeHydrogas
  • Max Road Speed56 km/h
  • Operational Range (Road)450 km
◆Dimensions3MOD.3
  • Length (Overall, Gun Forward)11.56 m
  • Width3.51 m
  • Height2.95 m
▲Production & Service3MOD.3
  • Total Production Units420
  • Years in Production7 year
  • Current Service StatusRetired
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1983Production started
  2. 1990First deployment: Gulf War
  3. 1999Sale: Jordan (400 units)
43
years in service
7
years in production
420
units produced
4
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
Operator Inventory3country · 826units
826active
Challenger 1SALES2records
YearBuyerQuantityAmountPresent Value (2025)
1999Jordan400——
—Oman4——
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE14terms
Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot: a type of kinetic energy penetrator ammunition.
Armour made from multiple materials, such as metals and ceramics, to increase effectiveness.
Computerised Basic: a fire control system generation in tanks that provides fundamental computer‑assisted ballistic calculations without advanced targeting aids such as laser rangefinders or thermal imaging.
Type of internal combustion engine fuel, refined from crude oil.
High-Explosive Fragmentation: ammunition that explodes on impact, releasing fragments.
Hydromechanical transmission combines hydraulic fluid power with mechanical gear components to transmit engine power to a tank's tracks.
Optical device that uses laser pulses to measure the distance to a target with high precision.
A main battle tank is a heavily armored vehicle with a large caliber gun, used for front-line combat.
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical protection for tank crews.
Enhanced low-light visibility through specialized optics or sensors.
A rifled gun has spiral grooves cut into its barrel.
Handheld or vehicle-mounted devices that release dense smoke to obscure vision, conceal movements, or screen friendly forces from enemy observation.
Thermal sights are infrared imaging devices mounted on a tank's gunner station that detect heat emitted by objects, enabling target identification and aiming in low‑visibility conditions.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Tanks entry →