K21 NIFV
| Next Infantry Fighting Vehicle | |
|---|---|
NIFV at the 2007 Seoul Air Show |
|
| General properties | |
| crew | 3 (driver, commander, gunner) + 9 (rifle squad) |
| length | 6.90 m |
| width | 3.40 m |
| height | 2.60 m |
| Dimensions | 25 tons |
| Armor and armament | |
| Armor |
Composite armor spaced armor |
| Main armament | 40 mm Bofors automatic cannon L / 70 |
| Secondary armament | 7.62 mm machine gun M60E4 2 × ATGM can be retrofitted |
| agility | |
| drive |
Doosan D2840LXE Diesel 552 kW (750 PS) |
| suspension | hydropneumatic |
| Top speed | 70 km / h land 7 km / h water |
| Power / weight | 22 kW / t |
| Range | 450 km of road |
The K21 NIFV ( N ext I nfantry F ighting V ehicle) is an in-production armored the Korean Army . It is intended to replace or supplement the K200 infantry fighting vehicle there. The start of production for the first 500 units was at the end of 2009, the first roll-out took place on November 27, 2009.
history
In 1999, the South Korean Defense Agency Agency for Defense Development (ADD) commissioned Doosan to develop a new armored personnel carrier . In 2003, Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery Ltd (now Doosan Infracore Defense Products) released details about the project called Next Infantry Fighting Vehicle (NIFV) . In the fourth quarter of 2005, three prototypes were completed, which were jointly developed with the Agency for Defense Development . The development is said to have cost 506 million euros. After the tests in previous years, the vehicle was selected and presented to the public in 2007. In November 2009, the delivery of the first 500 armored personnel carriers ordered began .
On July 29, 2010, a K21 sank while crossing a river, and a soldier died. This was the second accident of its kind. A commission of inquiry came to the conclusion that the vehicles were a bit too top-heavy. At the same time, the surge board was built only 7 to 11 cm high instead of the planned 22 cm. Another problem was the falling internal pressure in the vehicle when the engine was running at full load, causing more water to flow into the tank than the bilge pump could suck out. The design was then revised and further tests were carried out in February 2011. The delivery of further tanks was stopped for the time being. Production resumed in April 2011 after the problems were resolved and tests on the slope were successful.
overview
The BMP-3 was considered a reference threat during the K21 development. The K21 armored personnel carrier should be protected against fire by a BMP-3 and at the same time have the firepower to destroy it. Many parts of the armored personnel carrier come from Western armaments companies and are manufactured under license in South Korea.
The crew consists of twelve people and consists of nine soldiers from a rifle squad and the three-person vehicle crew. During the development, special attention was paid to mobility and firepower. The vehicle is conventionally equipped with a manned tower, at the rear of which there is a storage grid for transporting equipment. Nevertheless, numerous innovations were used:
The hull is made entirely of an aluminum alloy , but individual parts such as the commander's hatch are made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic to save weight . This also helps ensure that the vehicle is buoyant. For this purpose, inflatable pontoons are attached to the left and right under the chain aprons to increase buoyancy. The very high specific power of 22 kW per ton is unique in the world for an armored personnel carrier. As with the Japanese Type 10 main battle tank , a continuously variable transmission is used to accelerate smoothly.
A 40 mm L / 70 cannon from Bofors is used as armament, which can fire sub-caliber projectiles and explosive grenades with a programmable fuse. The vehicle was one of the first mass-produced armored personnel carriers, in addition to the Puma armored personnel carrier , and like a battle tank with hunter / killer capabilities. The commander can use his sensor on the tower to search for targets, identify them and hand them over to the gunner, while the gunner uses his own sensor independently. In addition, such a second full-fledged sensor on the tower roof typically enables weapons to be aimed after the gunner's sensors fail. Due to the armament, the K21 NIFV can penetrate the frontal armor of obsolete main battle tanks of the type 59 or T-54 , which represent the bulk of the North Korean armored weapon with over 1000 units, at least in the close range.
In addition, a combat simulator is integrated into the vehicle; so the tank is also its own training device at the same time. This creates the possibility of training the crew at any time and anywhere, either with your own tank or in a virtual network with other K21s. In this case, the driver sees the route on his LC display. In contrast to the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, no video goggles are used, so that the drive over hatch cannot be simulated.
technology
Crew and sensors
The driver sits in the front left, the engine is next to him on the right. The commander sits behind him, to the right of the commander on the other side of the main weapon the shooter. The driver's position is equipped with a T-bar for driving and a large flat screen for reversing, engine data are also displayed on it. In contrast to the KW2 WAV transport tank, where the driver controls the tank via external cameras and flat screens, a conventional solution is used. The driver of the K21 has three corner mirrors for the outside view, the middle one can be replaced by a night vision device. In addition, there is a Forward Looking Infrared to the left of the driver's hatch and a CCD camera next to the right headlight. The commander has a sidestick and two screens, for example for periscope and tactical map. It has a fully stabilized periscope developed by Samsung and Thales with a third-generation thermal imaging device and an optical CCD color camera. This is electronically controlled, can be rotated 360 ° and has a maximum elevation of −10 ° to + 50 °. With the integrated laser rangefinder, the commander can add discovered targets on the tactical map. The shooter has, among other things, two screens and an emergency sight; like the M1A2 shooter, he aims with a double aiming handle. All occupants of the tank are connected to one another with an Inter-Vehicular Information System (IVIS).
The nine soldiers of the rifle squad sit opposite one another ("face to face"). There is a 15-inch multifunctional display in the fighting area, on which data from the Battle Management System or an external CCD camera can be displayed. When mounted, the Panzergrenadiers are connected to the Inter-Vehicular Information System (IVIS).
An automatic fault diagnosis system of Doosan Infracore is also available. A portable maintenance and test device can also be connected to the vehicle for maintenance purposes.
Armament
The vehicle is the first mass-produced armored personnel carrier to have Hunter / Killer capabilities like a battle tank . With the fire control system, targets up to 6000 meters away can be identified and tracked. The equipment for the gunner includes a thermal imaging device and a laser range finder (wavelength 1.54 µm), both of which work up to six kilometers away. The commander is able to access the gunner's systems in an emergency. A novelty is also the friend-foe detection in order to reduce accidents caused by self- fire. A directional antenna above the gun mantlet sends a signal in the direction of the target (request), which receives it with an omnidirectional antenna and replies with a programmed key ( transponder ), which must match that of the interrogator. The system probably works like the TSE 6010 from Thales with millimeter waves in the 36–38 GHz range. The system is also built into the K2 Black Panther and is compatible with it; the rectangular directional antenna is integrated into the gun mantlet.
The two-man tower of K21 is a 40 mm L / 70- automatic cannon of the type K40 from S & T Dynamics (license production of the 40-mm Bofors gun equipped), that also in CV9040 is used and is fully stabilized. Together with a modern fire control computer, it can be used to fire bullets and multi-purpose grenades precisely at ground targets, helicopters and (slow) low-level aircraft while driving. The maximum range against air targets is 4000 meters. The reloading process is fully automated: A curved double magazine with 24 rounds is attached to the gun, which can be placed on a transfer piece for the reloading process. This is located on the floor in the rear part of the tower cage and also contains 24 rounds, so it can fill the entire magazine at once. After loading, the magazine is swiveled back into the firing position under the gun. As with Russian tanks, the main magazine is located as a carousel in the bottom of the turret cage and contains a total of 80 rounds with the bullet points inwards, distributed over two levels. The ammunition is loaded from the carousel into the transfer piece in order to fill the magazine if necessary. Additional reserve ammunition is located under the commander's seat, but this must be fed into the magazine manually and is therefore available even if the automatic loading system fails. A total of 200 rounds of ammunition are carried along; 24 of them in the magazine, 24 in the transfer piece, 80 in the carousel and 72 under the seat. When firing, the cases are ejected over the roof to the front right.
The cadence (rate of fire) of the 40 mm L / 70 cannon is up to 300 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of up to 1005 m / s (K236 multi-purpose grenade) and 1400 m / s (K237-APFSDS-T). The improved APFSDS-T ammunition of the type K237 is a wing-stabilized arrow projectile made of sintered tungsten carbide and able to penetrate 160–220 mm armor according to RHA . The K236 multi-purpose grenades (licensed production of the 3P ammunition by Bofors) consist of an intelligent programmable ignition unit at the tip and a pre-fragmented warhead containing 1100 tungsten balls with a diameter of 3 mm. The grenades have six ignition modes; the selected firing mode is stored in the grenade by the fire control system before it is fired. Possible are:
- Impact Mode: Grenades detonate on impact
- Armor-piercing mode: grenade penetrates the target and detonates behind it
- Gated Proximity Mode: Proximity fuse against air targets
- Gated Proximity Mode with Impact Priority : Proximity Detonator ; detonates only when a direct hit is no longer possible
- Time Mode with Controlled Dispersion: Grenades are detonated too early / too late over the target to achieve dispersion
- Time Mode without Dispersion: Grenades always detonate in the same place in the air, even if the tank is moving
A coaxial machine gun of the type M60E4 in caliber 7.62 × 51 mm NATO with a rate of 550 rounds / min is available as a secondary weapon to the right of the main weapon. The missile armament should be scaffolded around 2014 and consist of two guided missiles with fire-and-forget properties. These should have a penetration capacity of around 1000 mm RHA and are currently in development. The starter is to be retrofitted later on the left side of the tower.
Armor and protection
The vehicle has soft, self-sealing fuel tanks that are also supposed to absorb the kinetic energy of a projectile. Furthermore, combined laser warning / UV sensors are attached to the composite armor on the front left and right of the turret: If the tank is targeted or shot at with a laser, these trigger an alarm and indicate the direction of the threat. There is also an ABC overpressure system as well as a smoke throw system (laying time about one second) and an automatic fire extinguishing system.
Although little is known about the composition of the armor, the front armor can withstand at least the 30mm APDS ammunition of the 2A72 automatic cannon of the BMP-3 , which has a 50mm penetration capacity against RHA at 1000 meters. The front turret armor is designed as spaced armor, a 50 mm thick plate with spacers is placed in front of the turret front. At least the front section of the tank uses two layers of hexagonal ceramic tiles made of aluminum oxide , each around 10 mm thick, and a layer of aramid fibers of unknown thickness behind them . The rear and side armor is designed to withstand at least 14.5 × 114mm AP ammunition. This corresponds to about 25 mm penetration capacity RHA at 1000 meters. However, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) also published a video that demonstrates MK bombardment into the side of the vehicle. The roof armor protects against splinters and shrapnel from 152 mm artillery shells from 10 meters away. Apart from the hatches, which are made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic and are only a few centimeters deep, no additional roof protection can be seen. There is also no dedicated mine protection; the basic armor of the aluminum hull is probably the only protection. The crew seats are also conventionally attached to the floor.
The improved version K21 PIP (Product Improvement Program) is said to have a hard kill system like the K2 Black Panther PIP to protect the tank from anti-tank guided missiles .
Because of the mountainous terrain of the Korean peninsula, great importance was attached to mobility. The K21 is powered by a Doosan V-10 D2840LXE turbo-charged 544 kW diesel engine. Due to the mass of 25 tons (or 26 tons combat weight), this results in a very high power density of around 22 kW per ton and is unique worldwide for an armored personnel carrier. The upgraded version K21 PIP should even have an engine with 617 kW, which should give the vehicle an extremely high power density of over 24 kW / t. In order to accelerate without delay, a continuously variable transmission is used. This is manufactured under license by S&T Dynamics as the HMPT 500-4EK and is based on the HMPT 800 from L-3 Communications . Integrated oil-cooled multi-disc brakes are used for deceleration. The hydropneumatic landing gear is very similar to that of the K2 Black Panther , but is unable to tilt or lower the tank.
The vehicle can float, and there are inflatable support floats under the side skirts on the left and right. These consist of seven cells on each side and are inflated and deflated via a central control system, with the aprons pivoting upwards via a joint. In addition, a surge board is folded down at the bow. Maneuvering in the water is done with the help of two water jet drives that accelerate the vehicle to a maximum of 7 km / h. It is possible to shoot while floating. A CCD camera is attached to the rear for reversing; the driver has a flat screen for this.
The armored personnel carrier is equipped with GPS and an inertial navigation system for navigation. The LLN-G1 inertial navigation system is manufactured by Northrop Grumman LITEF in Freiburg im Breisgau and consists of laser gyroscopes and acceleration sensors in MEMS technology. The data obtained in this way are combined with those of the GPS and an odometer in order to calculate the position of the armored personnel carrier in three dimensions. In contrast to GPS signals, the inertial navigation system cannot be disturbed.
Users
Series production began in 2009, and the unit price for South Korea is expected to be around 4.5 million US dollars per unit.
-
South Korea : 500 pieces (900 pieces are planned) -
Indonesia : 22 pieces at $ 70 million, so $ 3.18 million each
The armored personnel carrier is also heavily advertised in Turkey , as the country is already using K2 Black Panther and K9 Thunder .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b defense industry daily
- ↑ a b c d e army technology
- ↑ DefenseNews: Panel Confirms Flaws in South Korean K21 Infantry Vehicle ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ DefenseNews - South Korea To Resume Production Of Tank, Infantry Fighting Vehicle ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ K21, 한국군 차기 보병 전투 차 내부 공개 - driver's seat
- ↑ K21, 한국군 차기 보병 전투 차 내부 공개 - Commander's place
- ↑ K21, 한국군 차기 보병 전투 차 내부 공개 - Schützenplatz 1
- ↑ Schützenplatz 2
- ↑ picture fighting area
- ↑ livedoor.jp
- ↑ atwiki.jp
- ↑ Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) ( Memento of the original from February 28, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 3.8 MB)
- ↑ Manufacturer video
- ↑ picture turret bulkhead armor
- ↑ YouTube video from 3:06 am
- ↑ Youtube video from 1:39
- ↑ Combat Propulsion Systems - HMPT 500 SERIES ( Memento of the original from September 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ 【K-21 IFV】 Korea's Indigenous Infantry Fighting Vehicle Documentary. (K21 장갑차)
- ↑ image surge board
- ↑ picture rear view camera
- ↑ GPS and INS
- ^ The Korea Times - Korea to decide on whether to redeploy K21 armored vehicle in April
- ↑ Janes - Doosan wins $ 70m K-21 tracked IFV order from Indonesian MoD
