The Military sales pitch doesn't match the reality. That's a conclusion being drawn by many after seeing what happened to a "Challenger 2" Tank on the Battlefields of Ukraine: Russia eats them for breakfast!
Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land is a large Defense Contractor. They make various types of equipment and tout the reliability of that equipment. Here's what they say they do:
As an integrated technology group, the listed company Rheinmetall AG, headquartered in Düsseldorf, stands for a company that is as strong in substance as it is successful internationally, and that is active in various markets with an innovative range of products and services. Rheinmetall is a leading international systems supplier in the defence industry and at the same time a driver of forward-looking technological and industrial innovations in the civilian markets. The focus on sustainability is an integral part of Rheinmetall's strategy. The company aims to achieve CO2 neutrality by 2035.
Through our work in various fields, we at Rheinmetall take on responsibility in a dramatically changing world. With our technologies, products and systems, we create the indispensable basis for peace, freedom and sustainable development: security.
They manufacture the "Challenger 2" Tank.
Here's how they advertise some of it:
The sales pitch is straight forward:
But the Sales Pitch doesn't seem to match the reality.
Here's the reality from the battlefields of Ukraine:
That is a "Challenger 2" Main Battle Tank built by Rheinmetall / BAE Systems Land.
The sales pitch says it can operate in "high intensity conflict." In reality . . . . apparently not so much.
Wow! Turret blasted out of the hole in the center top of the tank, where it used to rest. Wheels blown off and/or melted. Tracks destroyed. Side armor over tracks and wheels blown to smitherines.
Somehow, this does not look as one might expect a "main battle tank" to look, on a battlefield.
What did this tank encounter that killed it? The Russian Army.
If this is the best that NATO has to offer, then as a layman, I can't help but feel NATO is sadly lacking. Deluding themselves as to the "superiority" of their forces.
If these are what would be put up against Russia, it seems to me NATO doesn't have a chance!
But that's not __really__ the point, now, is it?
The actual point is how much these tanks cost taxpayers, and how much the military-industrial-complex (MIC) can pocket. I asked Google "How much does a Challenger 2 tank cost. Here's the response:
So presuming Google is correct, for $4.9 MILLION dollars each, taxpayers can rest easy knowing this is "protecting" them.
Or . . . maybe not rest so easy after seeing what happens in the real world!
OK, to heck with resting easy, just pay the money and buy more tanks . . . the MIC has to earn profit! They have to donate to political campaigns so the politicians they get elected can . . . buy more tanks!
You really shouldn't be paying attention to stories like this; might be bad for Rheinmetall/ BAE Systems Land, sales.
UPDATE MARCH 12, 2024 --
The video below describes and shows what it says is a Challenger 2 tank, getting stuck in the mud on the battlefield of Ukraine. Real high performance, these Challenger 2's!
