UK plans to provide Challenger 2 tanks to Poland that could give its T-72 tanks to Ukraine
According to information published by newspapers websites “The Times” and “The Sun”, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the United Kingdom and Poland are in negotiations to acquire British Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) so they can hand in their own Soviet-made T-72 tanks to the Ukrainian army.
In April 2022, the British Ministry of Defense announced a new military aid of around €120 million to boost the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces with the delivery of 800 NLAW anti-tank guided missiles, more Javelin anti-tank missiles, loitering munitions, Starstreak surface-to-air missiles as well as non-lethal aid including ballistic helmets, body armor, and night-vision goggles.
According to the military balance 2021, the Polish army has a total of 127 T-72A/T-72M1 in operational conditions and 257 more in store. Poland would be ready to give its T-72 tanks to Ukraine in exchange for British Challenger 2 tanks in order to maintain its military capabilities and face the Russian threat.
For Ukrainian soldiers, it will be easy to use its t-72 tanks, because most of the combat tanks used by the Ukrainian army are of Russian origin, so no need for special training for immediate use.