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October 17, 2002

Major General Rob Fulton, a senior equipment specialist at the British Defense Ministry, told the press on 16 October that plans were being considered for the "desertification" of two armored brigades (a total of 234 Challenger 2 tanks). This would include modifications to the skirts, improved oil and air filters, as well as changes to the tanks' engines. These appear to reflect the "lessons learned" from the 2001 "Swift Sword 2" exercises in Oman, as reported earlier on Strategypage. The Defense Ministry would not comment whether these modifications were for possible operations in Iraq. - Adam Geibel