K2 Black Panther
| K2 Black Panther | |
|---|---|
|
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
| length | 7.5 m; 10.8 m (length with gun in 12 o'clock position) |
| width | 3.60 m |
| height | 2.40 m |
| Dimensions | 55.0 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor | Composite armor , reactive armor |
| Main armament | 1 × Rheinmetall 120 mm smoothbore gun L / 55 (40 rounds) |
| Secondary armament | 1 × 12.7 mm K6 machine gun (deck assembly) and 1 × 7.62 mm machine gun (coaxial) |
| agility | |
| drive | water-cooled 12-cylinder MTU diesel engine MB-883 Ka500 1103 kW (1500 PS) |
| suspension | hydropneumatic |
| Top speed | 70 km / h (road) 50 km / h (terrain) |
| Power / weight | 20.1 kW / t (27.3 PS / t) |
| Range | 430 km |
The K2 Black Panther , known during the testing and development phase as the e X perimental K2 ( XK2 ), is a main battle tank of the South Korean armed forces with a unit price of 8.5 million US dollars.
history
The vehicle was with a contract budget of 230 million US dollars from the South Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD German Office for Defense Development ) designed to fight tanks K1 Type 88 to replace. The research work began in 1995 and continues to this day. When ADD was commissioned to develop a modern battle tank, armaments companies such as GIAT Industries and Diehl BGT Defense GmbH were involved in the development process in order to help develop various systems and components of the tank. Even so, about 90 percent of the K2 Black Panther was designed by South Korean companies. The vehicle is manufactured by Hyundai Rotem , with Samsung Techwin and World Industries Ace Corporation also participating in the production.
Russian tank models brought additional development impetus, as Russia supplied T-80 U-tanks to repay debts and a T-72 was also purchased from an unnamed Eastern Bloc country. The experience gained from these battle tanks flowed into the development of the K2. The South Korean Army originally planned to procure around 680 K2 Black Panthers, but for financial reasons a reduction in the number was considered several times before the start of series production. The unit price per tank is said to be around 8.5 million US dollars (USD).
protection
The armor consists of composite armor and reactive armor . The thickness of the armor roughly corresponds to that of the M1A2 Abrams , but in contrast to its almost 62 tons, the K2 is lighter with a weight of 55 tons. Reactive armor is used on the more weakly armored sides and on the roof, while composite armor is strongest on the front of the vehicle. Among other things, this increases the battlefield mobility and the fuel consumption of the vehicle is reduced. In addition, the K2 Black Panther is equipped with distance-active protective measures . In the initial phase, they include a soft kill system of the VIRSS type, with the later version K2 Black Panther PIP (Product Improvement Program) a hard kill system is also to be installed, which is currently still in development. The tank is equipped with a radar and laser warning system ( EloSM ) to warn the crew if the tank is discovered and homing and to interfere with the signals ( ECM ). In addition, the K2 has a 360 ° millimeter wave radar with which approaching projectiles and nearby helicopters and aircraft can be recorded. The target data obtained in this way can be passed on directly to the fire control system for rapid combat.
An IFF ( Identification friend or foe ) and SIF ( Selective identification feature ) system according to STANAG 4579 is also available.
Armament
The main armament originally required for the K2 was a 140 mm smoothbore cannon , which Rheinmetall was currently developing. The 140 mm cannon was abandoned when Rheinmetall stopped development. The reason for the development stop was the knowledge that the introduction of existing battle tanks would mean the costly replacement of the armored turrets and that the parallel further development in the form of a 120 mm L / 55 cannon brought enough potential to replace existing battle tanks and those in development to fight. The vehicle can be converted to the 140 mm cannon with only minor changes.
Like many modern battle tanks, the K2 Black Panther is armed with the 120 mm smoothbore cannon from Rheinmetall, which is also installed in the Leopard 2A6 in the selected L / 55 variant . In contrast to the Leopard 2, it is automatically reloaded and reaches a rate of fire of 15 rounds per minute. In comparison, the Leopard 2 achieves nine rounds per minute with a very good loader. The car charger used in the K2 is very similar to that of the Leclerc. The K2 also has a modern fire control system that enables the fight against low-flying helicopters. A maximum range of ten kilometers is achieved. In addition, the fire control allows the automatic detection and tracking of vehicle-sized targets without the intervention of the gunner. A special detail of the K2 Black Panther is its computer-monitored fire process. Other tanks like the Leclerc can miss a target with their main weapon if they hit a bump while firing. The modern fire control system of the K2 only triggers the shot when the cannon is again aimed precisely at the target.
The following types of ammunition are available for the 120 mm L / 55 cannon:
- Balancing projectiles similar to DM63 ammunition (with very high penetration power)
- Multipurpose bullets similar to the American M830A1 HEAT MP-T
- KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Ammunition). Developed by Diehl on the basis of the SMArt-155 ammunition . The projectile is fired from the cannon, unfolds stabilizing wings and flies on a ballistic trajectory into the target area. A parachute is opened in the target area, the ammunition floats to the ground and searches the target area with millimeter wave radar, infrared and ESM sensors. Once a target is found, a projectile-forming charge ( explosively formed penetrator , EFP) is fired from above at the target. This allows the K2 Black Panther to fight targets that are discovered that are outside of its normal range of sight and range. The ammunition is of the Fire & Forget type, but there is a data link to the tank. The minimum distance to the target is two kilometers, the maximum distance eight kilometers. The target data can be sent to the tank by means of data transmission from other units.
The secondary armament consists of a 12.7 mm K6 machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun installed axially parallel to the main cannon. 3,200 cartridges are carried for the 12.7 mm MG and 12,000 cartridges for the 7.62 mm MG. In addition, the K6 machine gun has a friend-foe detection system.
The tower is rotated with electric motors.
mobility
The K2 Black Panther is powered by an MTU MB-883-Ka500 engine, produced under license, which generates 1500 hp and accelerates the tank to around 70 kilometers per hour. There is also an additional gas turbine that generates 400 hp. It is responsible for the power supply of the electronics as well as the radar and ventilation systems when the main engine is switched off.
The K2 Black Panther is equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension. Each caster can be controlled individually, which allows the tank to lean in almost any direction. This ability gives the tank excellent properties when driving off-road. Thanks to a foldable deep wading shaft, the K2 is capable of deep wading up to 2.25 meters; Thanks to a longer underwater drive shaft, it can be driven up to a depth of 4.2 meters.
User states
South Korea
After the production of three prototypes, series production began in 2012. A total of 397 pieces are planned. The first 100 vehicles have now been delivered to the troops. A total of 206 units are to be delivered. The military are demanding another 100 pieces in view of the modernization of the tanks on the North Korean side.
Turkey
Turkey tested the French Leclerc , the German Leopard 2 and the K2 Black Panther, with the K2 emerging as the winner of the comparison. In 2007 negotiations about an arms deal between Turkey and South Korea were concluded: The Turkish vehicle manufacturer BMC will produce the Turkish Altay tank with the know-how of K2 Black Panther . In total, it was a financial volume of about 540 million US dollars. By 2016, Otokar had produced four prototypes. The motor is supplied by BMC-Power. This makes the K2, alongside the K9 Thunder, the second South Korean large armored device to be produced in Turkey
Web links
- Datasheet of the manufacturer, Hyundai Rotem (English; PDF; 1.5 MB)
- Information on www.globalSecurity.org (English)
- Photos and further information on the K2 Black Panther and (English)
swell
- ↑ a b c d e Hyundai Rotem brochure (PDF; 1.5 MB)
- ↑ Defense-Update.com Active Protection for the South Korean K-2 Main Battle Tank ( Memento of the original from July 4, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ ... but low-flying helicopters as well. on military-today.com
- ^ Korean K1A1 and K2 tanks show their power . 5th February 2016.
- ↑ S. Korean Military Demands Deployment Of 100 More K2 Black Panther Tanks . May 12, 2016.
- ^ South Korea To Resume Production Of Tank, Infantry Fighting Vehicle , defensenews.com, January 31, 2011
- ↑ Turks show new Süper tanks. In: Auto Bild. November 21, 2012, accessed April 9, 2015 .
- ↑ Army-technology.com: Altay Main Battle Tank, Turkey
