XK2
Encyclopedia
K2 Black Panther is a South Korean main battle tank
that will replace the M48A5K Patton tanks and complement the K1 series of main battle tanks currently fielded by the Republic of Korea. Full-scale mass-production is currently under way.
The K2 Black Panther features state-of-the-art technology and is certified as the world's most expensive tank by Guinness World Records
, costing over per unit.
s and Type 59
s, development was started in 1995 for a new main battle tank with emphasis upon utilization of domestic technologies. The plan was to further modernize the South Korean military, and allow the proposed vehicle to enter the export market without problems from foreign nations relating to licensing issues.
The Agency for Defense Development (Hangul
: 국방과학연구소), or ADD, was given the task of developing a modern armored fighting vehicle with state-of-the-art technology. The design was deemed production-ready in 2006, following 11 years in development and a research budget expenditure of approximately .
Two principal designs were considered during development: One fitted with a manned turret, and another fitted with an unmanned turret. The latter was scrapped in favour of the former at the early design stage. It was also planned for the K2 to field Rheinmetall
's experimental 140 mm smoothbore gun, though this had to be abandoned when Rheinmetall ceased development upon the rationale that its current weapon, the 120 mm / L55 would be more than adequate to counter prospective armored threats for the foreseeable future. The K2's gun was subsequently reconfigured to the L55, along with necessary modifications for ammunition capacity. The vehicle is capable of mounting the 140 mm gun with minimum modifications should the need arise. The gun's autoloader
is similar to that of the French Leclerc
.
The Black Panther reached its production phase on March 2, 2007, when the first of three production models rolled out of the assembly line in Changwon
, South Korea
. Several media sources erroneously speculated at the time that the K2's main gun was the L52 (6.24 m) main gun, similar to the Leclerc
's main gun.
The South Korean Army currently fields approximately 2,300 tanks, many of which will are planned for replacement by the K2 and K1A1 main battle tanks.
The vehicle can cross rivers as deep as 4.1 meters using a snorkel system, which also serves as a conning tower for the tank commander. The system takes approximately 30 minutes to prepare. The turret becomes watertight while fording, but the chassis can take in 440 liters (116 gallons) of water to prevent excessive buoyancy from air inside the vehicle and keep the tracks planted firmly on the ground. Furthermore, the tank can enter combat-ready status as soon as it resurfaces.
The Black Panther fields an advanced suspension system, called the In-arm Suspension Unit (ISU), which allows for individual control of every bogie on the tracks. This allows the K2 to "sit", "stand" and "kneel", as well as "lean" towards one side or a corner. "Sitting" gives the tank a lower profile and offers superior handling over roads. "Standing" gives the vehicle higher ground clearance for maneuverability over rough terrain. "Kneeling" augments the angular range in which the tank's gun barrel can elevate and depress, allowing the vehicle to fire its main gun downhill as well as engage low-flying aircraft more effectively. The suspension unit also cushions the chassis from vibrations when travelling over uneven terrain, as the bogies can be adjusted individually on-the-fly.
It was originally planned for the K2 to feature a powerpack comprising a Doosan Infracore Corporation
1500 hp 12 cylinder diesel engine and a S&T Dynamics
transmission. However, this was not ready for service during early stages of prototype testing, during which the MTU-890 was used as a temporary stopgap. When it was finally implemented, the domestic powerpack encountered recurrent technical problems in testing, necessitating the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to delay operational deployment of the K2 until 2013.
The autoloader enables the tank to fire up to 15 rounds per minute, or one round every four seconds, without being affected by the gun's angle. It has recently been confirmed by GIAT
that the K2 autoloader's design is derived from that of GIAT's Leclerc
. Despite the similarity of the two autoloaders, many of the components of the two designs are not interchangeable.
. This new munition offers significantly greater penetration than the current generation of tungsten rounds through better heat treatment
of the tungsten alloy and a technique referred to as the "self-sharpening process". The latter works by making the tungsten core sharpen rather than deform during the penetration of armor. For attacking unhardened targets, the K2 can use a multi-purpose HEAT chemical energy round, similar to the U.S. M830A1 HEAT MP-T
, providing good offensive capabilities against personnel, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles on the ground as well as low-flying helicopters.
The KSTAM
(Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition) is a fire-and-forget
, top-attack anti-tank munition with an effective operating range of 2-8 km, developed specifically for use with the Black Panther. It is launched as a kinetic energy projectile, fired from the main gun in a high trajectory profile comparable to that of a mortar
. Upon reaching its designated target area, a parachute deploys, giving onboard millimeter band radar
, IR
and radiometer
sensors time to seek and acquire stationary or moving targets. When a target is acquired, an explosively formed penetrator
is fired from a top-down position, to exploit the weaker top armor of tanks. Target acquisition can also be directed manually by the tank crew via a remote-link. These characteristics allow the launch vehicle to remain concealed behind cover while firing successive rounds towards the known location of an enemy, or provide effective indirect fire support against targets hidden behind obstacles and structures.
The KGPS (Korean Gunner's Primary Sight) and the KCPS
(Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight) are present in the Black Panther as in the original series of K1A1 tanks. The optics system on the Black Panther, however, will be further modified to utilize the advantages of the sensors and armaments offered on the new vehicle.
The commander of the tank has the ability to override the command to take control of the turret and gun from the gunner. Moreover, unconfirmed reports state that, in the event of an emergency, the vehicle can be operated by only two, or even a single, crew member. It is speculated that the FCS can automatically spot and track visible targets, compare them using the data link established with other friendly vehicles to prevent redundant target engagements, and fire its main gun without manual input.
blocks are also present, with the addition of Non-Explosive Reactive Armor
planned for the K2 PIP version (See below).
Defense against incoming missiles is currently provided by a soft-kill anti-missile system. The K2 PIP will likely deploy a hard-kill anti-missile defense system when it is released within the next few years.
The millimeter band radar system mounted on the turret is capable of operating as a Missile Approach Warning System
(MAWS). The vehicle's computer in turn can triangulate incoming projectiles, immediately warn the vehicle crew and fire off Visual and Infrared Screening Smoke (VIRSS) grenades, which can effectively block optical, infrared and radar signatures. Once the hard-kill AMS is installed, the radar system will also be responsible for tracking and targeting the incoming missiles for the AMS. The K2 also has a Radar Warning Receiver
(RWR) and radar jammer. Four all-bearing Laser warning receivers (LWR) are also present to alert the crew should the vehicle become "painted", and the computer can also fire off VIRSS grenades in the direction that the beam is coming from.
An automatic fire-suppression system is programmed to detect and put out any internal fires that may occur, and atmospheric sensors alert the crew if the tank enters a hazardous environment.
Work is also under way to integrate the XAV
unmanned wheeled reconnaissance vehicle into the Black Panther's systems, giving the tank's crew the ability to remotely scout an area without exposing its position.
Mass production of the new-generation MBTs, which are set to replace the aging K1 and largely obsolete US-built M48 tanks, was originally planned to begin in 2009, but faulty indigenous engines and transmission of the tanks halted the production.
Production of the K2 tank has been suspended since then as the homegrown engine and transmission, known as a “power pack,” was found to be defective, the Associated Press reports.
“Given the circumstance of development for the domestically built power pack, a deployment date of the K2 tank was delayed to 2013 from 2012,” DAPA spokesman Jeong Jae-un was quoted as saying.
The “power pack” of Black Panther, based on the German-made MTU-890, is made up of a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine and transmission. According to DAPA spokesperson Jeong Jae-un, Korea will replace the defective Korean-made parts with German-made parts if the defects are not corrected by October 2011.
, the K2 finally established its first export customer in Turkey
. In June 2007, South Korea and Turkey successfully negotiated an arms deal contract worth ₩500 billion (approximately US$540 million) licensing the design of the K2, as well as exporting 40(+15) KT-1 trainer planes, to Turkey.
On July 30, 2008, South Korea's Rotem
and Turkey's Otokar
signed a contract worth $540 million for technological and design assistance, also technology transfer of some of the parts of the K2. The technology is to be incorporated to Turkey's own indigenous future main battle tank, dubbed MİTÜP Altay. As of May, 2009, no design details of the Altay tank have been made public. Despite sharing many subsystems with the K2, such as protective armor and main gun, it is expected to feature a different look and have different performance characteristics.
In July 2011, Indonesian Army interested to buy K-2 for MEF till 2014
is planning to field at least 397 Black Panthers after full-scale mass-production starts in 2011.
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
that will replace the M48A5K Patton tanks and complement the K1 series of main battle tanks currently fielded by the Republic of Korea. Full-scale mass-production is currently under way.
The K2 Black Panther features state-of-the-art technology and is certified as the world's most expensive tank by Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
, costing over per unit.
Development
Although the K1 and K1A1 have been considered to be more than adequate to counter opposing North Korean tanks, most of which are T-55T-55
The T-54 and T-55 tanks were a series of main battle tanks designed in the Soviet Union. The first T-54 prototype appeared in March 1945, just before the end of the Second World War. The T-54 entered full production in 1947 and became the main tank for armored units of the Soviet Army, armies of...
s and Type 59
Type 59
The Type 59 main battle tank is a Chinese produced version of the Soviet T-54A tank, an improvement over the ubiquitous T-54/55. The first vehicles were produced in 1958 and it was accepted into service in 1959, with serial production beginning in 1963...
s, development was started in 1995 for a new main battle tank with emphasis upon utilization of domestic technologies. The plan was to further modernize the South Korean military, and allow the proposed vehicle to enter the export market without problems from foreign nations relating to licensing issues.
The Agency for Defense Development (Hangul
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 국방과학연구소), or ADD, was given the task of developing a modern armored fighting vehicle with state-of-the-art technology. The design was deemed production-ready in 2006, following 11 years in development and a research budget expenditure of approximately .
Two principal designs were considered during development: One fitted with a manned turret, and another fitted with an unmanned turret. The latter was scrapped in favour of the former at the early design stage. It was also planned for the K2 to field Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall
Rheinmetall AG is a German automotive and defence company with factories in Düsseldorf, Kassel and Unterlüß. The company has a long tradition of making guns and artillery pieces...
's experimental 140 mm smoothbore gun, though this had to be abandoned when Rheinmetall ceased development upon the rationale that its current weapon, the 120 mm / L55 would be more than adequate to counter prospective armored threats for the foreseeable future. The K2's gun was subsequently reconfigured to the L55, along with necessary modifications for ammunition capacity. The vehicle is capable of mounting the 140 mm gun with minimum modifications should the need arise. The gun's autoloader
Autoloader
An autoloader or auto-loader is a mechanical aid or replacement for the personnel that load ordnance into crew-served weapons, such as tanks and artillery...
is similar to that of the French Leclerc
Leclerc
The AMX-56 Leclerc, commonly known as the Leclerc, is a main battle tank built by Nexter of France. It was named in honour of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque who led the French element of the drive towards Paris while in command of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division in World War...
.
The Black Panther reached its production phase on March 2, 2007, when the first of three production models rolled out of the assembly line in Changwon
Changwon
Changwon is a city in and the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do in South Korea. Changwon city is 8th most populous city in South Korea, with a 2010 established population of 1,089,039. It encompasses a land area of on southeastern of South Korea. The population of Southeastern part of Korea, that...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. Several media sources erroneously speculated at the time that the K2's main gun was the L52 (6.24 m) main gun, similar to the Leclerc
Leclerc
The AMX-56 Leclerc, commonly known as the Leclerc, is a main battle tank built by Nexter of France. It was named in honour of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque who led the French element of the drive towards Paris while in command of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division in World War...
's main gun.
Contractors
The following agencies and companies participated in the development and manufacturing process the K2 Black Panther:- Agency for Defense Development (HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 국방과학연구소): Main development of the project. - Doosan Mottrol (HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 두산모트롤): Electric Gun/Turret Drive (EG/TD), oil pressure system, etc. - HanwhaHanwhaHanwha Group is one of the largest business conglomerate in South Korea. Founded in 1952 as Korea Explosives Inc. , the group has grown into a large multi-profile business conglomerate, with diversified holdings stretching from explosives, their original business, to retail to financial...
(HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 한화): Combustible cartridge cases for main gun ammunitions. - Hyundai Rotem (HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 현대로템): Main supplier of the vehicle. - LSLS GroupLS Group is a Korean Jaebeol . It is composed of LS Corp. , Gaon Cable, E1 , YESCO and LS Asset Management . "LS Corp." is a holding company, which comprises LS Cable LS Group is a Korean Jaebeol (conglomerate). It is composed of LS Corp. (see below), Gaon Cable, E1 (LPG), YESCO (LNG) and LS...
Mtron (HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: LS엠트론): T-156 tracks. - Poongsan (HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 풍산): Ammunitions such as the K276 (APFSDS-T), K277 (HEAT-MP-T) and so on. - S&T DynamicsS&T DynamicsS&T Dynamics is a South Korean weapons, windpower, auto parts and casting and machine tools manufacturer founded in 1959. Its heavy weapons equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.- History :...
(HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: S&T대우): Developing and manufacturing the transmission for the vehicle. - Samsung TechwinSamsung TechwinSamsung Techwin is a surveillance, aeronautics, optoelectronics, automations and defense company. It is a subsidiary of Samsung Group. The company employs 4720 employees and is headquartered in South Korea. Its totals sales in 2010 was 3,198 billion won....
(HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 삼성테크윈): Providing vetronicsVetronicsVetronics is an portmanteau of the words vehicle and electronics, used extensively in the military domain. The term also has limited usage in other contexts and in company branding, in particular in the veterinary and medical domains....
and other components, including the gas-turbine auxiliary power unit. - Samsung ThalesSamsung GroupThe Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea...
(HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 삼성탈레스): Responsible for the vehicle's IFF system, Driver's Thermal Periscope (DTP), Gunner's Primary Sight (KGPS), Commander's Panoramic Sight (KCPS), Fire Control System, etc. - World Industries Ace (HangulKorean languageKorean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 위아): Manufacturing the armaments of the vehicle, notably the 120 mm / L55 gun(Rheinmetall licensee).
The South Korean Army currently fields approximately 2,300 tanks, many of which will are planned for replacement by the K2 and K1A1 main battle tanks.
Mobility and maneuverability
The K2 can travel at speeds of up to 70 km/h on road surfaces, accelerate from 0 to 32 km/h within 7 seconds, and maintain speeds of up to 52 km/h in off-road conditions. It can also climb 60 degree slopes and vertical obstacles 1.3 meters in height. Due to the relatively compact design of the engine, the designers were able to fit an additional Samsung Techwin gas-turbine engine into the remaining compartment space. This is capable of producing 100 hp, and intended to act as an auxiliary power unit with which the tank may power its on-board systems when its main engines are turned off. It will also allow the tank to conserve fuel when idling and minimise the vehicle's thermal and acoustic signatures.The vehicle can cross rivers as deep as 4.1 meters using a snorkel system, which also serves as a conning tower for the tank commander. The system takes approximately 30 minutes to prepare. The turret becomes watertight while fording, but the chassis can take in 440 liters (116 gallons) of water to prevent excessive buoyancy from air inside the vehicle and keep the tracks planted firmly on the ground. Furthermore, the tank can enter combat-ready status as soon as it resurfaces.
The Black Panther fields an advanced suspension system, called the In-arm Suspension Unit (ISU), which allows for individual control of every bogie on the tracks. This allows the K2 to "sit", "stand" and "kneel", as well as "lean" towards one side or a corner. "Sitting" gives the tank a lower profile and offers superior handling over roads. "Standing" gives the vehicle higher ground clearance for maneuverability over rough terrain. "Kneeling" augments the angular range in which the tank's gun barrel can elevate and depress, allowing the vehicle to fire its main gun downhill as well as engage low-flying aircraft more effectively. The suspension unit also cushions the chassis from vibrations when travelling over uneven terrain, as the bogies can be adjusted individually on-the-fly.
It was originally planned for the K2 to feature a powerpack comprising a Doosan Infracore Corporation
Doosan Corporation
Doosan Corporation is a corporate holding company headquartered in Euljiro 6-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea.-History:*1896 Park Seung-jik opened first store*1925 Changed the name of Park Seung-Jik Store Limited to Doosan Store...
1500 hp 12 cylinder diesel engine and a S&T Dynamics
S&T Dynamics
S&T Dynamics is a South Korean weapons, windpower, auto parts and casting and machine tools manufacturer founded in 1959. Its heavy weapons equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.- History :...
transmission. However, this was not ready for service during early stages of prototype testing, during which the MTU-890 was used as a temporary stopgap. When it was finally implemented, the domestic powerpack encountered recurrent technical problems in testing, necessitating the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to delay operational deployment of the K2 until 2013.
Offensive capability
The K2's main armament is the L55 120 mm smoothbore gun, developed under license by ADD and manufactured by World Industries Ace Corporation. It also deploys a 12.7 mm K-6 heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. The ammunition for the main gun is loaded in a 16-shell magazine, with a total ammunition capacity of 40.The autoloader enables the tank to fire up to 15 rounds per minute, or one round every four seconds, without being affected by the gun's angle. It has recently been confirmed by GIAT
Giat
Giat is a commune in the Puy-de-Dôme department in Auvergne in central France.-Geography:The Chavanon flows southeastward through the south-western part of the commune.-References:*...
that the K2 autoloader's design is derived from that of GIAT's Leclerc
Leclerc
The AMX-56 Leclerc, commonly known as the Leclerc, is a main battle tank built by Nexter of France. It was named in honour of General Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque who led the French element of the drive towards Paris while in command of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division in World War...
. Despite the similarity of the two autoloaders, many of the components of the two designs are not interchangeable.
Munitions
The K2's primary anti-tank munition is an indigenously-developed, improved tungsten APFSDS kinetic energy penetratorKinetic energy penetrator
A kinetic energy penetrator is a type of ammunition which, like a bullet, does not contain explosives and uses kinetic energy to penetrate the target....
. This new munition offers significantly greater penetration than the current generation of tungsten rounds through better heat treatment
Heat treatment
Heat treating is a group of industrial and metalworking processes used to alter the physical, and sometimes chemical, properties of a material. The most common application is metallurgical. Heat treatments are also used in the manufacture of many other materials, such as glass...
of the tungsten alloy and a technique referred to as the "self-sharpening process". The latter works by making the tungsten core sharpen rather than deform during the penetration of armor. For attacking unhardened targets, the K2 can use a multi-purpose HEAT chemical energy round, similar to the U.S. M830A1 HEAT MP-T
M830
The M830 is an American high explosive anti-tank round meant primarily for the 120 mm M256 main gun of the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams. Aside from the double safety, propellant containment bag and M764 fuze, it is identical to the German DM12A1. The cartridge weighs approximately 53.4 lb . The round was...
, providing good offensive capabilities against personnel, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles on the ground as well as low-flying helicopters.
The KSTAM
KSTAM
The KSTAM stands for Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition, and is a smart munition intended to be launched from the gun of a main battle tank, namely the K2 Black Panther...
(Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition) is a fire-and-forget
Fire-and-forget
Fire-and-forget is a third-generation method of missile guidance. The military uses the term for a type of missile which does not require further guidance after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance , and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the...
, top-attack anti-tank munition with an effective operating range of 2-8 km, developed specifically for use with the Black Panther. It is launched as a kinetic energy projectile, fired from the main gun in a high trajectory profile comparable to that of a mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
. Upon reaching its designated target area, a parachute deploys, giving onboard millimeter band radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, IR
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
and radiometer
Radiometer
A radiometer is a device for measuring the radiant flux of electromagnetic radiation. Generally, the term radiometer denotes an infrared radiation detector, yet it also includes detectors operating on any electromagnetic wavelength....
sensors time to seek and acquire stationary or moving targets. When a target is acquired, an explosively formed penetrator
Explosively Formed Penetrator
An explosively formed penetrator , also known as an explosively formed projectile, a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armour effectively at standoff distances...
is fired from a top-down position, to exploit the weaker top armor of tanks. Target acquisition can also be directed manually by the tank crew via a remote-link. These characteristics allow the launch vehicle to remain concealed behind cover while firing successive rounds towards the known location of an enemy, or provide effective indirect fire support against targets hidden behind obstacles and structures.
Fire Control System and Optics
The K2 is equipped with an advanced Fire Control System (FCS) linked to a millimeter band radar system deployed on the frontal arc of the turret, along with a traditional laser range-finder and crosswind sensor. The system is capable of a "lock-on" mode, which can acquire and track specific targets up to a range of 9.8 km using thermal optics. This allows the crew to fire accurately while moving as well as effectively engage low-flying aircraft. The FCS is also linked to an advanced gun stabilizer and trigger-delay mechanism to optimise accuracy while moving in uneven terrain. Should the trigger on the main gun be pulled at the moment the tank encounters an irregularity in the terrain, oscillation of the gun barrel will cause temporary misalignment between a laser emitter at the top of the barrel and a sensor at the base. This will delay the FCS from activating until the beam is re-aligned, improving the chances of hitting the intended target.The KGPS (Korean Gunner's Primary Sight) and the KCPS
Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight
The KCPS, or Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight, is an advanced optical system for the K1A1 main battle tanks in use by the Republic of Korea Army...
(Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight) are present in the Black Panther as in the original series of K1A1 tanks. The optics system on the Black Panther, however, will be further modified to utilize the advantages of the sensors and armaments offered on the new vehicle.
The commander of the tank has the ability to override the command to take control of the turret and gun from the gunner. Moreover, unconfirmed reports state that, in the event of an emergency, the vehicle can be operated by only two, or even a single, crew member. It is speculated that the FCS can automatically spot and track visible targets, compare them using the data link established with other friendly vehicles to prevent redundant target engagements, and fire its main gun without manual input.
Defensive capability
Details of the composite armor of the Black Panther are classified. The frontal armor has been proven to be effective at defeating the 120 mm APFSDS round fired from the L55 gun. Explosive Reactive ArmorReactive armour
Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. It is most effective in protecting against shaped charges and specially hardened long rod penetrators...
blocks are also present, with the addition of Non-Explosive Reactive Armor
Reactive armour
Reactive armour is a type of vehicle armour that reacts in some way to the impact of a weapon to reduce the damage done to the vehicle being protected. It is most effective in protecting against shaped charges and specially hardened long rod penetrators...
planned for the K2 PIP version (See below).
Defense against incoming missiles is currently provided by a soft-kill anti-missile system. The K2 PIP will likely deploy a hard-kill anti-missile defense system when it is released within the next few years.
The millimeter band radar system mounted on the turret is capable of operating as a Missile Approach Warning System
Missile Approach Warning
A Missile Approach Warning system is part of the avionics package on some military aircraft. A sensor detects attacking missiles. Its automatic warning cues the pilot to make a defensive maneuver and deploy the available countermeasures to disrupt missile tracking.Guided Surface to Air Missile ...
(MAWS). The vehicle's computer in turn can triangulate incoming projectiles, immediately warn the vehicle crew and fire off Visual and Infrared Screening Smoke (VIRSS) grenades, which can effectively block optical, infrared and radar signatures. Once the hard-kill AMS is installed, the radar system will also be responsible for tracking and targeting the incoming missiles for the AMS. The K2 also has a Radar Warning Receiver
Radar warning receiver
Radar warning receiver systems detect the radio emissions of radar systems. Their primary purpose is to issue a warning when a radar signal that might be a threat is detected. The warning can then be used, manually or automatically, to evade the detected threat...
(RWR) and radar jammer. Four all-bearing Laser warning receivers (LWR) are also present to alert the crew should the vehicle become "painted", and the computer can also fire off VIRSS grenades in the direction that the beam is coming from.
An automatic fire-suppression system is programmed to detect and put out any internal fires that may occur, and atmospheric sensors alert the crew if the tank enters a hazardous environment.
Network-centric considerations
The K2 houses the following features which help to improve situational awareness for the crew:- C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) uplink.
- GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) uplink.
- IFF/SIFIdentification friend or foeIn telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...
(Identification Friend or Foe/Selective Identification Feature) system compliant with STANAG 4579STANAGSTANAG is the NATO abbreviation for Standardization Agreement, which sets up processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO state ratifies a STANAG and implements it within their own...
. Located on the main gun mantlet, just above the gun, the system fires a 38 GHz beam in the direction of the gun for a response from the targeted vehicle. If a proper response signal is shown by the target, the fire control system automatically identifies it as a friendly. If the target fails to respond to the identification signal, it is then declared as a hostile. - Battle Management System (Similar to the Inter-Vehicular Information System used in the United States military) allows the vehicle to share its data with friendly units, including other armored vehicles and helicopters.
Work is also under way to integrate the XAV
XAV
XAV , is a highly-maneuverable, light mechanized, four-wheeled unmanned vehicle that is capable of being controlled from a remote station and used for field reconnaissance...
unmanned wheeled reconnaissance vehicle into the Black Panther's systems, giving the tank's crew the ability to remotely scout an area without exposing its position.
K2 product improvement program
The K2 PIP is an improved version of the initial production model of the K2 that will be released within the next few years. Improvements will include:- Upgrading the Semi-Active In-arm Suspension Unit to an Active In-arm Suspension Unit
- Integration of a high-resolution terrain-scanning system to the vehicle's suspension system. This is purported to allow the vehicle to "plan ahead" by scanning nearby terrain up to 50 meters away in all directions and calculate the optimal position of the bogies in order to improve vehicle handling over uneven terrain.
- Integration of a hard-kill anti-missile system.
- Addition of Non-Explosive Reactive Armor (NERA).
- Potentially replacing the 120 mm / L55 gun with an electrothermal-chemical gunElectrothermal-chemical technologyElectrothermal-chemical technology is an attempt to increase accuracy and muzzle energy of future tank, artillery, and close-in weapon system guns by improving the predictability and rate of expansion of propellants inside the barrel....
, which will significantly increase the vehicle's firepower and potential payload.
Technical Issues
In March, 2011, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has stated that the mass production of K2 Black Panther MBT, which the Army was expecting to deploy in 2012, will not happen until 2013 due to mechanical problems involving the tank's engine and transmission.Mass production of the new-generation MBTs, which are set to replace the aging K1 and largely obsolete US-built M48 tanks, was originally planned to begin in 2009, but faulty indigenous engines and transmission of the tanks halted the production.
Production of the K2 tank has been suspended since then as the homegrown engine and transmission, known as a “power pack,” was found to be defective, the Associated Press reports.
“Given the circumstance of development for the domestically built power pack, a deployment date of the K2 tank was delayed to 2013 from 2012,” DAPA spokesman Jeong Jae-un was quoted as saying.
The “power pack” of Black Panther, based on the German-made MTU-890, is made up of a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine and transmission. According to DAPA spokesperson Jeong Jae-un, Korea will replace the defective Korean-made parts with German-made parts if the defects are not corrected by October 2011.
Exports
After competing against the Leclerc and Leopard 2Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a main battle tank developed by Krauss-Maffei in the early 1970s for the West German Army. The tank first entered service in 1979 and succeeded the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the German Army. Various versions have served in the armed forces of Germany and twelve...
, the K2 finally established its first export customer in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. In June 2007, South Korea and Turkey successfully negotiated an arms deal contract worth ₩500 billion (approximately US$540 million) licensing the design of the K2, as well as exporting 40(+15) KT-1 trainer planes, to Turkey.
On July 30, 2008, South Korea's Rotem
Rotem
Hyundai Rotem is a South Korean company manufacturing rolling stock, defense products and plant equipment. It is part of the Hyundai Motor Group...
and Turkey's Otokar
Otokar
Otokar, a sub-division of Koç Holding, is a Turkish manufacturer of buses and military vehicles headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey.-History:Otokar began business in 1963 as Turkey's first intercity bus manufacturing company under the license of Magirus Deutz of Istanbul. Otokar was noted for...
signed a contract worth $540 million for technological and design assistance, also technology transfer of some of the parts of the K2. The technology is to be incorporated to Turkey's own indigenous future main battle tank, dubbed MİTÜP Altay. As of May, 2009, no design details of the Altay tank have been made public. Despite sharing many subsystems with the K2, such as protective armor and main gun, it is expected to feature a different look and have different performance characteristics.
In July 2011, Indonesian Army interested to buy K-2 for MEF till 2014
Operators
- At least 3 prototypes made. The ROK ArmyRepublic of Korea Army
The Republic of Korea Army is the largest of the military branches of the South Korean armed forces with 520,000 members as of 2010...
is planning to field at least 397 Black Panthers after full-scale mass-production starts in 2011.
External links
- K2 Black Panther video and information
- GlobalSecurity.org
- KBS news video coverage of K2
- Yonhap News article covering ADD, Doosan and S&T's development of K2's engine
- Defense Technology International - June 2008 - Contains two-page article featuring the Type 10Type 10The is an advanced Japanese main battle tank.-Overview:The TK-X project aims to produce the new Type 10 main battle tank, to replace or complement the existing Type 74 and Type 90 main battle tanks that are currently in service with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. Development began in the...
of the Japan Self-Defense Force and the K2 Black Panther of the Republic of Korea military. - Korea Defense Acquisition Program Administration Blog - K2 Explanation