North Korea’s New Tanks vs. South Korea’s K2 Black Panther: Which is Better? – Part 4
Daniel Kim Views
Automatic Object Tracking and Destruction with Fire Control System
The K2 tank adopts the Extreme High Frequency (EHF) radar in the millimeter band, a distinctive feature in its class. Integrating the radar system with the fire control system enables the K2 to predict terrain elevation during movement, thus significantly bolstering stability while engaging targets on the go. Mounted at the forefront of the turret, the EHF radar, laser rangefinders, and wind sensors can anticipate the necessary angles for engaging targets, even adjusting for variables like vehicle height.
The K2’s advanced fire control system can detect and track not only ground vehicles but also objects flying at low altitudes, such as helicopters. With an impressive, effective range spanning 10 kilometers, the fire control system autonomously identifies and tracks objects of vehicular size, streamlining their destruction seamlessly.
The K2 has a K-6 12.7mm machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun to fortify its self-defense capabilities. Although the K2 features composite armor, the specific materials and proportions used in the armor remain classified, akin to other tanks employing composite armor. For export variants, composite armor is incorporated into the sides to protect against rocket attacks and anti-tank-guided missiles.
Anti-tank protection netting is strategically deployed on both the rear of the turret and the hull to fortify protection. Modular Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks can be added to the external hull. The armor of the K2 is designed to withstand 120mm tank shells with a caliber of 55 on the frontal aspect. Active Protection Systems (APS), countermeasures, and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) protection systems are installed to maximize crew survivability.
The K2 tank, which focuses on mobility, has a basic weight of approximately 55 tons, lighter than most third-generation tanks. Another feature of the K2 tank is its suspension system designed for maneuvering in the Korean Peninsula terrain. Given the rugged mountainous terrain prevalent in the northern part of the peninsula, the ability to adjust the vehicle’s height levels and maintain a stable posture is crucial.
The In-arm hydropneumatic suspension system, a hallmark of the K2, allows seamless adjustment of the vehicle’s front and rear heights, ensuring stable firing toward targets. By lowering the chassis as close to the ground as possible, the tank facilitates firing downhill and minimizes exposure to adversaries.
Moreover, the K2 can fold up to 1.2 meters without a snorkel, and with a snorkel designed in the shape of a tower, it can submerge up to 4.2 meters. This technology is based on the know-how acquired by introducing the T-80U tank in the late 1990s as part of the Brown Bear Project.
The K2 tank can ford up to 1.2 meters without a snorkel
Various derivatives of the K2 are being developed to meet the demands of overseas customers. Mainly, with increasing interest from the Middle East, a desert variant is under development. To cope with extreme temperatures reaching up to 43 degrees Celsius in harsh environments, this variant prioritizes enhanced air conditioning capacity and improved power pack cooling to thrive in arid environments.
Given the importance of countering Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), as underscored by past conflicts such as the Iraq War and the Afghan War, efforts are underway to bolster anti-tank mine protection capabilities for stronger hull protection capabilities to STANAG level 4. Internal blast designs are also applied to crew seating to enhance crew survivability.
The K2 Black Panther tank has been deployed in combat since June 2014. Initial batches were equipped with power packs sourced from the German company MTU. The first deployment occurred in June 2014, with 15 tanks assigned to the 7th Mechanized Infantry Division on the central front. Subsequently, from the end of 2014, the first tank battalion composed entirely of K2 Black Panther tanks began to be formed.
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