Korean BlackBerry K2 "Black Panther"
Now in service with South Korea is more than 2500 tanks. This number includes about 1500 K1 and K1A1 tanks; 80 T-80U and T-80UK; The rest of South Korea’s tank fleet consists of the outdated “Pattones” M47 and M48 of various modifications, which will eventually be replaced with new K2.
Despite the fact that the “South Korean Abrams” (Korean K1) have a fairly modern level, in 1995, the development of the new XK2 combat vehicle began, focusing on the use of domestic developments and technologies. Probably, when developing the car, among the project objectives, not only was a significant increase in the combat properties of the tank and a new technical level, but also the ability to export without any problems related to the licensing of foreign technologies (K1 used American developments; Abrams "). This assumption is confirmed by the interest of Turkey in the new South Korean tank.
The XK2 design was completed in the 2006 year, 11 years after the start of development. Two options were considered: the main battle tank with rendered weapons - with an 140-mm cannon in an uninhabited tower and a classic-style tank with an 120-mm cannon in an inhabited tower. Since the developer of the gun, the company Rheinmetall, work on the 140-mm gun was suspended, the Koreans chose the second option.
The first of the three XK2 prototypes was demonstrated by 2 in March 2007, in Changwon, southeast of Seoul.
The South Korean Defense Development Agency (Agency for Defense Development, ADD) and Rotem (a division of Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group) spent 2 billion (approximately US $ 200 million) on developing XK230. Currently, K2 is the most expensive tank, the cost of one machine is about 8.5-8.8 million US dollars and exceeds the price of the latest versions of the M1 Abrams about two times.
K2 "Black Panther" has a classic layout. Combat weight 55 t. Crew three people: driver in the left in front of the hull, commander in the right and gunner-operator on the left in the tower. Unlike the K1, which has a loader, an automatic loader is used to load the K2 gun.
Firepower weaponry
The K2 is armed with an 120-mm L55 Rheinmetall smooth-bore cannon with a 6.6 barrel length. The gun is licensed by World Industries Ace Corporation. Ammunition for the gun is 40 shots, 16 of which are in the automatic loader. The rate of fire up to 15 fps / min regardless of the angle of the gun.
Additional armament: 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun and 12.7-mm anti-aircraft gun K6 on the roof of the tower. Ammunition consists of 12000 7.62-mm and 3200 12.7-mm cartridges.
Ammunition
In the ammunition of the main armament can be used standard 120-mm tank shells of NATO. In addition, specifically for K2 developed new ammunition.
A new feathered armor-piercing sabot projectile with a separating pallet, in which a tungsten alloy core is improved and armor penetration is enhanced. For the attack of unarmored and lightly armored targets, manpower and low-flying helicopters, a new multi-purpose cumulative projectile similar to the American M830A1 HEAT MP-T can be used.
The KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition) projectile was developed specifically for the Black Panther. This is an “intelligent” homing inertial (does not have its own engine) projectile that attacks highly armored targets from the least protected upper hemisphere. Unlike most modern ATGMs, during the flight of which the gunner-operator must track the target, the KSTAM operates on the “fire and forget” principle. To fire this projectile, a hover trajectory is used, like a howitzer artillery. The projectile is equipped with a millimeter-wave radar, infrared and radiation sensors. The flight path is adjusted by four stabilizers. When approaching the target, a parachute opens to reduce speed and precise targeting is performed, which is hit by a strike core. In case of such a need, a control channel is provided, which allows the gunner-operator to adjust the projectile's flight path.
The KSTAM projectile allows firing from 2 to 8 km from direct fire and from firing positions.
Aiming devices, fire control system
The main KGPS gunner's sight and panoramic observation device of the KCPS commander are currently the same as on the K1A1 tank. Both combined (day / night), stabilized in two planes, have a thermal imaging channel. In the future, aiming and observation devices are supposed to be improved for use with new sensors that have been installed on the Black Panther.
The fire control is dubbed, the tank commander can take control of the armament.
K2 is equipped with a millimeter-wave radar located on the cheekbones of the frontal part of the tower, a laser rangefinder and side wind sensor. The new MSA allows you to escort, quickly and with high precision to direct the main armament to low-flying helicopters, as well as to detect projectiles flying towards the tank. The OMS is capable of capturing and tracking a target at a distance of up to 10 km using a thermal imager. When tracking a target in real time, ballistic calculations are made and appropriate corrections are taken into account, which ensures high accuracy of shooting from the spot and on the move.
Improving the accuracy of shooting provides a laser sensor curvature of the barrel, which determines not only static but also dynamic curvature of the barrel. During movement on uneven surfaces, when the trunk can be bent from vibration, the OMS monitors the signal of the curvature sensor and, in case of deviation of the curvature of the trunk from the static, the system prohibits a shot. When the barrel returns to its original position, the lock is released, the shot is permitted.
According to some information, the OMS has the ability to automatically find and accompany targets, identify their vehicles and fire at enemy targets without the participation of crew members.
DEF
K2 uses modular combined armor and explosive dynamic protection. The future modification of the K2 PIP tank is planned to use a non-explosive DZ. The Black Panther’s frontal reservation is claimed to withstand the hit of 120-mm OBPS fired from the L55 cannon.
To protect against controlled missiles A jamming system is used (similar to the Shtora optical-electronic suppression system). When an enemy missile is detected by a millimeter radar or when laser sensors identify radiation (the tank has 4 such sensors), the computer sends a signal to the crew and a command to fire smoke grenades in the desired direction. The grenades create a smoke screen that ensures the tank's invisibility in the optical, infrared and radio ranges.
On the K2 PIP modification, it is planned to install an active protection complex in which the millimeter-wave radars already existing on the tank will be used.
The tank has a collective protection system and fire fighting equipment.
Mobility
The Black Panther uses a new EuroPowerPack engine and transmission unit with a MTU MB-883 Ka500 diesel engine with an 1500 hp power. and an automatic five-speed transmission developed by Renk. Additionally, the tank is equipped with a gas turbine unit with a power of 400 hp, which provides the generator and power supply of the tank when the main engine is off.
The K1 tank uses a mixed torsion and hydropneumatic suspension system HSU. On K2, the Black Panther installed an advanced semi-active, hydropneumatic ISU suspension system with individual control of the suspension units. Depending on the nature of the surface, the suspension changes its characteristics, minimizing vibrations. The suspension system provides not only a change in ground clearance, but also the inclination of the tank in the longitudinal and transverse planes, which allows increasing the permeability of the vehicle and significantly increasing the range of angles of the vertical guidance of the gun.
The maximum speed of the K2 70 km / h on the highway and 50 km / h on rough terrain; Acceleration to 32 km / h in 7 seconds; power reserve 450 km.
Overcoming obstacles: elevation angle 31 °, vertical wall 1.3 m. The tank is equipped with a PTT with a composite pipe for underwater driving and after 30-minute preliminary preparation can overcome water obstacles to a depth of 4.1 m (the predecessor of K1 overcomes a ford to a depth of 2.2 m). The OPVT system provides the opportunity to join the battle immediately after overcoming a water obstacle.
The modification K2 PIP is planned to improve the suspension - to replace the semi-active one with an active one. Installing a high-resolution scanning system for the terrain, scanning the high-resolution terrain on 50 m forward and transmitting the corresponding control signals to the suspension system allows the most optimal way to travel along uneven paths.
Command handling
Like the Japanese MBT “Type 10”, the K2 “Black Panther” developed the requirements of C4I (command, control, communications, computers, and (military) intelligence - command control, communication, computers and intelligence).
K2 is equipped with a combat information and control system associated with the C4I; GPS satellite navigation system; identification equipment "friend or foe", corresponding to the NATO standard STANAG 4579 "Target identification devices on the battlefield".
By the beginning of the 2010 of the year, at least 4 of the XK2 prototype tanks were produced in two versions. One machine (see photo) is visually distinguished by vertical gun mask armor, inclined frontal hull sheets and smoke grenade launchers placed horizontally in one row. The three cars of the other variant (see photo) have a klioobraznuyu, similar to that of the K1A1, a cannon mask, a vertical section of the frontal body booking and smoke grenade launchers horizontally arranged in two rows.
Information