K2 BLACK PANTHER (Main Battle Tank)

                  K2 BLACK PANTHER (SOUTH KOREA)
                                          MAIN BATTLE TANK

 

 This Tank was the result of the South korean Xk2 programme and is developed in South Korea using purely indigenous materials and is manufactured by Hyundai Rotem.b

Its development began in 1995 and its first prototype was revealed in 2007, afterwards the tank was trialed and evaluated and production contract for the first 100 K2 tanks was signed in 2014. 

This tank which is the most expensive in the world will replace the old K1 Main Battle Tanks that is presently the backbone of the South Korean Army.

The K2 black panther is one of the most advanced MBT in the world outclassing anything possessed by her neighbors including North Korea, China and even Japan.

This tank has a very advanced fire control system that can spot, track and fire automatically at visible vehicle size targets; even low flying helicopters without any input from human operators. 

This tank technologies is very similar to that of the M1A2 Abrams and its gun is similar to that of German Leopard 2A6 and 2A7. It has soft kill and hard kill anti missile defense system.

              
The 120-mm gun can fire variety of munitions and is compatible with all standard NATO tank rounds and also capable of firing the new KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition) rounds. 

The KSTAM which has an effective range of 8 kilometres and can be fired from closed position and behind cover has its own guidance system, aided by four stabilizing fins and at the final stage a parachute will deploy to slow its fall and accurately engage target. Such principle is broadly similar to mortar-launched anti-tank munitions. 

Secondary armament consists of coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and K6 12.7-mm heavy machine gun, placed on its roof. Both of these machine gun have a very huge ammunition load (12 000 x 7.62-mm and 3 200 x 12.7-mm). Also, the K6 heavy machine gun has an automatic system, that identifies friend from a foe.

The K2 black panther uses both modular composite armor of undisclosed type and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks. It is also argued that the front armor can withstands direct hits from 120-mm tank rounds, fired from L55 guns. 

The Black Panther tank is also fitted with an active protection system and countermeasures system and completed with an NBC protection system. 

The K2 Black Panther is powered by the license-built MTU MB-883 Ka500 engine developing 1,500 horsepower. There is also a backup gas-turbine power unit developing 400 horsepower and also has an onboard power systems which keeps the tank running when the main engine has been turned off. This boost the fuel efficiency of the tank.

 The K2 Black Panther has a state-of-the-art semi-active hydropneumatic suspension. Every boogie wheel can be individually controlled allowing this MBT to kneel, stand, sit and stand or lean in any direction. This tank can also operate under water as deep as 4.2m.

The K2 Black Panther is very Similar to US M1A2 Abrams but the K2 is lighter and arguable superior to the M1A2 Abrams.

ENTERED SERVICE               ?

CREW                                     3

                                                                                                      

WEIGHT                                         55t
LENGTH                                        10m
HULL LENGHT                            7.5 m
WIDTH                                            3.6 m
HEIGHT                                         2.5 m                          

ARMOR            Classified type of composite armour with ERA and NERA modular add-on-armour and hard to kill anti- tank missile defence system.

 MAIN ARMAMENT              120mm (4.72in), 55 Caliber, Smoothbore gun (40 Rounds)

 SECONDARY  ARMAMENT    1 X 12.7 X 99mm (50 BMG), K6heavy machine gun (3,200 rounds) 1x7.62x51mm, NATO Coaxial Machinegun(12,000rounds)  

ELEVATION RANGE                      ?     

TRANSVERSE  RANGE            360%

ENGINE                                              4 Cycle, 12-Cylinder Water cooled diesel 

ENGINE POWER                             1,500hp(1,100kw)                

                               

OPERATIONAL RANGE              450 kilometer (280mi)            

  
SPEED            70km/h(43mph) on road, 50km/h (31mph) off road

GRADIENT                                         60%
SIDE SLOPE                                       40%
VERTICAL STEP                                1.3 m
TRENCH                                              2.8 m
FORDING                                            1.2 m
FORDING WITH PREPARATION    4.2 m           

UNIT COST                                        $8.5Million           

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