Production and problems. Main tank K2 Black Panther (South Korea)
Since the mid-nineties, the South Korean defense development agency ADD has been designing a promising main tank, designated the K2 Black Panther. Development work was completed only by the end of the next decade, and at the beginning of the tenth the series started. During the development, testing and launch of production of MBT, K2 faced characteristic problems that negatively affected the pace of production and rearmament of the army.
The project and its problems
The lead developer of the promising MBT was the ADD agency. Also, several commercial enterprises were involved in the project, which then had to participate in production. For example, it was planned to entrust the assembly of equipment to Hyundai Rotem, which is part of the Hyundai Motor Group. Several other organizations have been entrusted with the development of key aggregates.
The goal of the K2 project was to create a "national" tank with high tactical and technical characteristics and the highest possible degree of localization. The bulk of the assemblies and components were to be of South Korean origin. In some cases, it was allowed to use foreign developments produced in South Korea under license. As it became clear later, this problem was only partially solved.
During the development, much attention was paid to the engine compartment. The tank was going to be equipped with a 27 hp DV1500K diesel engine. from the Doosan company. S&T Dynamics was commissioned to design the EST15K six-speed automatic transmission. The key MTO units were planned to be combined into a quick-change power unit.
Tank of the pre-production batch in the exercise, 2014
The design of the tank and key components was seriously delayed. The most difficult thing turned out to be the creation of power units with the required parameters of power and reliability. However, by 2007-2008. managed to manufacture an experimental batch of engines and transmissions for use in the construction of prototype tanks.
Tests of several experienced MBTs continued until the early tenths and ended with an ambiguous result. The main part of the units and systems confirmed the calculated characteristics immediately or after some revision. At the same time, all the problems in the area of logistics appeared again. The engine and transmission did not provide the required power, often broke down, etc.
New power unit
In its current form, the K2 tank did not meet all the requirements and could not be adopted for service. Due to the need to improve the power unit, the launch of serial production, previously planned for 2010-12, was postponed indefinitely.
For the early launch of the series, an updated work plan for the tank was proposed. In accordance with it, the industry had to rework the K2 under the existing and available MTO as soon as possible, carry out the necessary tests and put the MBT of this version into production. At the same time, work should continue on its own units - when ready, they were supposed to replace imported units.
Tanks of the first series in exercises, 2016
An integrated German-made EuroPowerPack power unit was chosen as a temporary measure. It includes a 883hp MTU MT501 Ka-1500 diesel engine, a Renk HSWL 295TM five-speed automatic transmission and a range of optional systems. Converting the tank to EuroPowerPack did not take long and did not require major design changes.
At the end of 2011, the customer approved such a project, and the Procurement Department of the Ministry of Defense (DAPA) ordered a pre-production batch of 15 tanks. Products under the general designation XK2 were built and transferred to the army in 2012-14. On the basis of one of the ground units, an experimental military operation was organized, during which tanks with imported MTO fully confirmed their characteristics.
Tanks in series
Based on the results of military operation, MBT K2 received a recommendation for mass production. In late December 2014, DAPA issued an order to Hyundai Rotem for the first production batch of 100 tanks. The cost of the equipment exceeded 900 billion won (820 million US dollars) - about 9 billion won or 8,2 million dollars per tank. The plant also received an option for a second batch of 100 tanks.
Thanks to the backlog, the first tanks were completed in November 2014, i.e. prior to the formal placement of the order. The last machines were handed over to the troops at the end of 2015. one hundred MBT K2015 passed all the necessary checks and procedures, after which it was distributed among combat units.
Immediately after the delivery of the first series, the existing option was exercised. At the same time, the firm contract was expanded to 106 tanks while maintaining the total cost at the same level. The second production batch of MBT was supposed to differ from the first in the MTO composition: they were going to install South Korean-made units from Doosan and S&T Dynamics on it. The delivery of this equipment was scheduled for 2016-17.
The assembly of the first tanks of the second series started at the end of 2015 and was completed on time. However, in the fall of 2017, DAPA announced that this technique could not be put into service. During its tests before being sent to the troops, it turned out that the South Korean EST15K transmission still does not show the required reliability.
In this regard, it was decided to re-equip tanks with the use of "hybrid" MTO. It was proposed to keep the South Korean DV27K engine, and the unsuccessful transmission was replaced with a reliable unit from Renk. All 106 tanks were planned to be rebuilt during 2018-20.
Due to organizational and other difficulties, as well as because of the typical problems of the last year, the work was delayed. The transfer of the re-equipped tanks with a "hybrid" power unit is still ongoing and has not yet been completed. However, all the improved K2s are expected to arrive in parts in the coming months.
Next batch
In the past, it was reported that the plans of the South Korean army also include a third series of vehicles of 100 units. In November last year, it became known that a corresponding contract had been signed, but the construction plans were cut in half. In addition, controversial measures have been taken again related to the engine compartment.
Under the terms of the contract, the third series will include 50 tanks. Their construction will begin after the completion of the upgrade of the previous equipment and will be completed in 2023. Since S&T Dynamics has not yet completed the development of its EST15K product, the tanks will again receive a German transmission for the South Korean engine.
Apparently, the production of the third series will no longer face any problems. The Doosan engine has already been adjusted to the desired condition, and the German transmission initially met all the requirements. The combined Korean-German MTO passed all the necessary tests and confirmed its high characteristics, and the tanks with it are already entering the troops and do not cause any complaints.
Incomplete success
As part of four contracts, the South Korean army ordered the construction of 271 K2 tanks in one pre-production and three production batches. More than 200 units have already been handed over to the customer and distributed between the parts. In the near future, work will be completed on updating the MBT of the second series, and by the end of 2023, another fifty vehicles are expected.
It is very likely that the production of K2 Black Panther tanks will continue after 2023. According to previous reports, the army needs at least 300-350 new tanks, which will partially replace the equipment of several outdated types. It can be expected that the next contract for dozens of tanks will appear already in 2022-23. - when the contractor will complete the construction of the already ordered series.
In general, the K2 project is receiving positive assessments, but the events of recent years show that it did not cope with one of the main tasks. The localization of the power unit has not been fully completed: its own engine has been developed and brought to production, while the emergence of an efficient and reliable South Korean transmission has been postponed again indefinitely.
A mock-up of a K2 tank of a serial appearance (in the foreground) and a K2PL modification for Poland (in the back)
The use of ready-made imported units led to some reputational costs, but made it possible to launch serial production of tanks on time. This approach has fully justified itself - and proofs of its correctness have been serving in combat units for several years.
However, the use of foreign components led to new difficulties. South Korea plans to sell its tank to third countries and is already in talks with potential buyers. In addition, she provided her technology to Turkey for the development of her MBT Altay. The presence of imported units may impose certain restrictions on the organization of the export of equipment or even threaten cooperation with some customers.
Import and its future
Due to the lack of the necessary experience, South Korea was unable to quickly and efficiently develop a promising main tank and all the units for it. Most of the work was successfully completed, but the power unit turned out to be an overly difficult task. As a result, the serial K2 Black Panther had to be built using imported units.
It is not known whether the South Korean industry will be able to complete the fine-tuning of the new transmission and bring it to operation. At the same time, there are already questions about the expediency of such a step. K2 tanks with German units meet all the requirements, and the restructuring of production or re-equipment of finished vehicles is associated with new difficulties. It is possible that the K2 tanks will remain with German transmissions, affordable and reliable.
- Ryabov Kirill
- South Korean Defense Ministry
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