The venerable Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle has proved a stalwart of British mechanised warfare for decades now. But with the fleet being scrapped, Craig Allen asks what the future holds for Britain’s armoured shield
Throughout its long career, the Challenger series of tanks has been accompanied into battle by another British stalwart – the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle or IFV. From the Gulf Wars to Bosnia and Kosovo, the Warrior has been the faithful mount of our armoured infantry. With its highly mobile tracked chassis, it can keep up with the heavy armour, delivering troops into the heat of the action. It can then provide fire support onto the objective with its Rarden cannon and chain gun. Warrior acquitted itself well both in combat and various peacekeeping operations, but it is now getting long in the tooth. The major upgrade planned under the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme, WCSP, was recently cancelled due to budget constraints. As a result, it now appears the new Boxer is to take on the Warrior’s role, but the versions currently planned are armoured personnel carriers, APCs. These are essentially battle taxis rather than true infantry fighting vehicles. T…
