Britain phases out FV107 Scimitar: Fast tanks may head to Ukraine
By the end of 2024, all FV107 Scimitar light reconnaissance tanks are expected to be withdrawn from service in the British Army. At least some may end up in Ukraine. We explain the main features of these British machines, which are known for their ability to achieve very high speeds, among other things.
The Ukrainian portal Defence Express notes that this is not the first time the topic of the FV107 Scimitar and the Ukrainian army has come up.
In September 2023, reports suggested that the United Kingdom, as part of one of the aid packages, was preparing to transfer over 20 FV107 Scimitar units to Ukraine. It was not until June 2024 that the British Ministry of Defence confirmed the transfer, but so far the FV107 Scimitar has not been seen on the front lines.
Britain is abandoning the FV107 Scimitar
The British military plans to withdraw all FV107 Scimitar units from service "due to their physical wear." This involves over 100 units. However, it is unlikely that all of them will go to Ukraine.
The technical condition of some units could be problematic, and at least some may be used as "donors of spare parts." It is also possible that the British will want to sell some of the withdrawn FV107 Scimitar units, which could interest other current users of such machines, including several countries outside Europe.
The fastest tank in the world
The FV107 Scimitar is a light reconnaissance tank based on the FV101 Scorpion fire support vehicle. These machines are record-breaking in some respects.
The FV101 Scorpion entered the Guinness World Records as the "fastest production tank" - under test conditions, it reached a speed of 51 mph. The FV107 Scimitar, modernised for the Jordanian army, unofficially reached a speed of over 56 mph.
The FV107 Scimitar has an automatic 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon and an auxiliary 7.62 mm machine gun. It weighs just under 8 tons and is powered by a 190 hp engine. The crew consists of three people. In 2010, the British began introducing Mk II upgrades, which increased mine resistance. The first versions of the FV107 Scimitar date back to the 1980s.
