The third-generation British main battle tank (MBT) in service with the militaries of the UK and Oman is the FV4034 Challenger 2 (MOD designator "CR2"). Vickers Defense Systems, a British corporation, created and constructed it (now known as BAE Systems Land & Armaments).
In 1986, Vickers Defense Systems launched a private project to create a Challenger 1 replacement.

In December 1988, the Ministry of Defense placed an order for a prototype. The MoD placed orders for 140 vehicles in June 1991 and for 268 more in 1994. The Challenger 1 was replaced when the unit's tanks were delivered in July 1994, after production had started in 1993. The tank was first used by the British Army in 1998 after a production delay, and the last one was delivered in 2002. Oman received a Challenger 2 export as well.