British tanks stationed on NATO’s eastern frontier with Russia are to be withdrawn and replaced by drones. The move marks a major shift in how British forces have reinforced NATO’s border with Russia and reflects lessons from the war in Ukraine.
Drones have become the defining weapon of the bloody conflict, while tanks have suffered heavy losses. British troops based in Estonia as part of NATO deterrence mission are set to transition from an armoured battlegroup to a “Mobile Anti-Armour Force” from April next year. This will see Britain’s stalwart Challenger 2 tanks return home, replaced by a new fleet of high-tech reconnaissance and attack drones.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said “highly-mobile” vehicles and “advanced” weapons, understood to include upgraded rocket launchers, will also bolster the force.
The number of British soldiers is also set to surge from about 800 to 1,200.
The MoD said the new force will be able to “deploy, disperse and demonstrate combat readiness more rapidly than a traditional armoured formation”.
It added that the force will have greater mobility, be able to respond to threats faster, and have enhanced survivability through “increased dispersal, deception and adaptability”.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who signed off on the plans alongside his Estonian counterpart in the country’s capital Tallinn, said: “More people, better mobility, and the latest tech means a more lethal and effective force, ready to fight and win alongside allies.”
Britain has had a main battle tank squadron deployed in Estonia since 2017.
The MoD said the changes “reflect the realities of modern conflict”, while also being tailored to the threats facing Estonia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned Russia could be ready to attack the alliance by 2030, with the Baltics widely seen as the most likely target.
The Express understands the decision has been in the works for around two years and is based on analysis that included wargaming exercises with Estonia.
The Challenger 2s will be retasked when they return to the UK, while 148 of Britain’s battle tank fleet are set to be upgraded to Challenger 3s.
In Labour’s long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, it claimed tanks “remain essential” to modern warfare, ensuring land forces can “seize or defend ground in all environments and conditions”.
