The L27A1 APFSDS is a British 120 mm depleted-uranium armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot round for Challenger 2's rifled L30A1 main gun. Jane's identified it as CHARM 3 entering British Army service in 1999, while UK Parliament records confirm depleted-uranium Challenger 2 ammunition was supplied to Ukraine during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.
The United Kingdom supplied Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks and depleted-uranium armour-piercing rounds; official statements identify the DU ammunition transfer, while ICBUW/CEOBS and Frontiers identify the Challenger 2 DU round as CHARM 3/L27A1, so the conflict-use attribution is direct but designation-caveated.
Role detailsOpen sources describe L27A1 through the Challenger armament programme designation CHARM 3 and through its separate charge arrangements. The Ukraine conflict-use claim should be read with that terminology in mind: UK official records name depleted-uranium Challenger 2 ammunition, while ICBUW/CEOBS and Frontiers connect that DU ammunition to CHARM 3/L27A1.
| Designation | Documented role | Source-backed note |
|---|---|---|
| L27A1 / CHARM 3 | 120 mm APFSDS projectile | Jane's identifies the L27A1 as CHARM 3, a depleted-uranium long-rod projectile for Challenger 2's L30A1 gun. |
| L16A1 CCC | Combustible-charge case | Jane's lists the L16A1 CCC as the charge associated with the CHARM 3 service projectile. |
| CHARM 3A1 / L17 | Bag-charge configuration | Jane's identifies CHARM 3A1 as the related L17 bag-charge configuration rather than a separate platform. |
| Ukraine DU transfer | Conflict-use attribution | UK Parliament records document depleted-uranium Challenger 2 ammunition supplied to Ukraine; secondary technical and NGO sources identify that ammunition stream as CHARM 3/L27A1. |
Jane's lists L27A1 APFSDS as Challenger 2 ammunition for the L30A1 gun, with service use beginning in 1999.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Main battle tank | RO Defence's 120 mm tank gun ammunition coverage identifies the L27A1 APFSDS round as Challenger 2 ammunition for the L30A1 gun; UK Army material describes Challenger 2 as the British Army's main battle tank platform. Sources: RO Defence 120mm tank gun ammunition, British Army Challenger 2 |
Jane's listed CHARM 3/L27A1 as entering British Army Challenger 2 service in 1999.
Sources: RO Defence 120mm tank gun ammunition
A UK Parliament answer stated that Challenger 2 tanks supplied to Ukraine would include armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium.
Sources: UK Parliament HL6144 Ukraine ammunition
A later UK Parliament answer said the Ministry of Defence had supplied 14 Challenger 2 tanks and thousands of Challenger 2 rounds, including depleted-uranium armour-piercing rounds, to Ukraine.
Sources: UK Parliament 192566 Depleted Uranium
