North Korea’s New Tanks vs. South Korea’s K2 Black Panther: Which is Better? – Part 2

Featured 3.5 Generation Technology “Active Protection System” (APS)

Another notable feature of the North Korean new tank is the “slat armor” positioned strategically at the rear of the chassis. This lattice-shaped armor causes the “shaped charge warhead” to explode before it hits tank armor, diminishing the penetration power of incoming projectiles by half.

Due to the much longer body than the 44-ton Songun-Ho and various additional equipment, the tank’s weight is estimated to be around 50 tons. This weight requires a minimum of 1200 horsepower to move at high speed. If North Korea had mainly used low-output engines of less than 800 horsepower and had not developed high-output engine technology, its mobility could have been significantly reduced. This is why it is assumed that its speed may be slower than the Songun-Ho’s top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). The new tank is highly likely to be defeated in a mobility competition against the K2 tank, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 70 km/h (43 mph).

There is a dynamic muzzle reference system at the end of the gun barrel and above the gun shield. This system detects the slight bending state of the gun barrel before firing and reflects it in the aiming shot, improving the gun’s accuracy. This has been previously found only in 3.5-generation tanks of the Western world, such as Korea’s K1 and K2 tank series. If North Korea has this equipment, it can be evaluated as having the precise moving shooting ability of the Western 3.5-generation tanks.

Phoenix 3 Suspected New Anti-Tank Guided Missile Mounted on Turret

The most significant feature of North Korea’s new tank is the mounting of a new anti-tank missile, suspected as Bulsae-3, on the right side of the turret – a rare feature seen in modern tanks. This strategic choice appears aimed at bolstering firepower beyond the capabilities of existing main guns, which struggle to penetrate the K2 tank. However, while the anti-tank guided missile may be strong outside the main gun range, it could face challenges against the K2 tank within its operational range.

Also worth noting is the commander’s primary sight.” This includes a dynamic muzzle reference system, which provides real-time target information to the fire control device utilizing laser sensors attached to the main gun. The primary weapon is a 125mm caliber applied from the Russian T72 and analyzed as a countermeasure against the K2 tank’s 120mm smoothbore gun.

However, while the T72 has a 52 caliber (the ratio of gun length to muzzle diameter; the larger the caliber length, the longer the barrel), the North Korean new tank is estimated to have a longer 55 caliber. Suppose the North Korean new tank’s attack potency is maximized with a smoothbore gun; the maximum range is estimated to be 2500-3000m (1.6-1.9 miles), and the penetration power is 500-600mm (19.7-23.6 inches), which is evaluated as being on par with Russia’s T90.

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