Black Panther on the prowl: Hyundai Rotem takes aim at the world stage with K2 MBT

Transcription

1 Black Panther on the prowl: Hyundai Rotem takes aim at the world stage with K2 MBT [Content preview Subscribe to Jane s International Defence Review for full article] The RoKA's K2 MBT is outfitted with the latest indigenous combat and survivability technologies, and is specifically designed to spearhead assaults across the demilitarised zone. Kelvin Wong investigates the capabilities of South Korea's premier land warfare platform With deliveries of the first tranche of around 100 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) commencing in 2014 and production of the second batch for the service well underway, South Korean defence prime Hyundai Rotem is hoping to exploit the experience gained from developing its first fully indigenous MBT to pursue international opportunities. The Hyundai Rotem K2 MBT is the Republic of Korea Army's latest and most capable land warfare platform. It will replace the service's ageing M48 series and early model K1 tanks. (Kelvin Wong) Operational challenges Page 1 of 7

2 Faced with the ever-present threat of attack by an increasingly belligerent North Korean regime, the RoKA is rapidly modernising its land warfare capabilities to deter, and if necessary, defeat any attempt by the Korean People's Army (KPA) to invade. According to the South Korean Ministry of National Defence's (MND's) Defence White Paper released in 2014, the KPA is believed to be maintaining an inventory of 4,300 tanks and 2,500 wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles of varying types and tonnages, although many of these are possibly unserviceable or operating at reduced capacities. The MND noted that the KPA maintains 70% of its forces south of the Pyongyang-Wonsan line, a posture that enables it to conduct a surprise attack at short notice. While the capabilities and readiness of the KPA's land combat platforms may be debatable, vehicles attacking southwards would be preceded by deep fires from 8,500 artillery pieces and 5,100 multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), the majority of which are forward deployed in fortified underground emplacements. Concerned by a series of North Korean military provocations since 2010 and growing uncertainty over the actions of Kim Jong Un's regime, the RoKA leadership is determined to build and maintain a significant qualitative edge over the KPA that is capable of stalling any military incursions southward across the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) towards Seoul. At the same time, the service has to be prepared to move north and secure North Korea either as a counter-offensive or in the advent of the collapse of the communist regime. Enter the K2 According to IHS Jane's World Armies, the RoKA's tank force currently comprises an eclectic mix of up to 80 Russian T-80 MBTs [understood to be the T-80U variant], 850 US-made M48 Patton MBTs, and around 1,500 K1 and upgraded K1A1 MBTs. In particular, the K1 series MBT - which was based on an early design of the Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) M1 Abrams platform - provided the RoKA with an unqualified advantage over the KPA's Chinese and Soviet-made vehicles when they were introduced in the mid-1980s. For example, the locally manufactured K1 introduced a combined hydropneumatic and torsion bar suspension system, as well as a river fording kit that was optimised for operations in the mountainous and swampy terrain of the Korean Peninsula. This was followed in 1999 by the K1A1, which was equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore gun (as opposed to the 105 mm gun of the earlier model), a modern fire-control system (FCS), and vetronics architecture. However, in 1995 the South Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) was engaged to develop the next generation of MBTs that will feature the latest in indigenous technologies. Designated the XK2 programme, it was intended that this development effort would further modernise the RoKA, despite the superior capability of existing K1 and K1A1 designs in comparison with existing North Korean tanks. Emphasis upon indigenous technologies would also allow the proposed vehicle to enter the export market without the potential for restrictions caused by the use of imported technologies. "The first reason is to prepare for the rapidly changing future battlefield," a Hyundai Rotem spokesperson told IHS Jane's. "Although the current K1A1 MBT's performance is excellent, it is somewhat lacking compared [with] world class tanks. In addition, we cannot guarantee peace on Page 2 of 7

3 the Korean Peninsula if we are satisfied with a level that we can only be able to defend to the current North Korean tanks. Mobility The XK2 design became production ready in 2008 and was re-designated the K2 in RoKA service, following 13 years in development. Official specifications provided by Hyundai Rotem note that the K2 measures 10.7 m in length, 3.6 m in width, and 2.4 m in height, with a combat weight of 56 tons. "Hyundai Rotem had conducted the concept study on the K2 MBT since 1995 and developed key components and core technology in 2002," the spokesperson explained. "Thereafter, the full scale development for prototype building had been conducted from 2003 to In 2008, Hyundai Rotem completed standardisation of the K2 MBT for mass production after successfully passing its final qualification test and evaluation." It was originally planned that the K2 would feature a domestically designed powerpack, based upon the German-designed MTU-890, comprising a Doosan Infracore Corporation 1,500 hp (1,100 kw) 12-cylinder diesel engine and an S&T Dynamics transmission. However, this encountered persistent technical trouble during testing, leading to a delay in operational deployment of the K2 for over two years. As an interim measure, initial K2 production models are powered by an MTU 883 V12 common rail diesel developing 1,500 hp and coupled to a fully automatic Renk transmission with five forward and three reverse gears. Page 3 of 7

4 The K2's in-arm suspension system enables the vehicle to adopt a range of postures to gain tactical advantages. The main gun can be depressed to engage targets -10 below the vehicle in this position. (Kelvin Wong) The new Doosan DV27K is a V12 twin-turbocharged and intercooled common rail diesel unit. The electrically started engine develops 1,500 hp, providing the K2 with a maximum road speed of 70 km/h and a stated cruising range of 450 km. Coupled to the DV27K engine is the S&T Dynamics EST15K automatic transmission, which is fitted with a single-stage, three-element torque converter with six forward and three reverse gears. "The first batch of the K2 MBT adopted an imported powerpack because the domestic powerpack was in the development phase at that time," the spokesperson said. "The development of domestic Doosan Infracore engine and S&T Dynamics transmission was initiated in 2005 and completed in 2014 after it successfully passed test and evaluation of parameters such as durability and system performance." The main gun can also be elevated up to 24 to engage targets located in higher terrain as well as low-flying aircraft. (Kelvin Wong) Mobility is enhanced with in-arm suspension technology, which enables control of every bogie on the tracks. This permits the K2's crew to manage the vehicle's posture to gain tactical advantages from the terrain. For example, the suspension enables the hull to be lowered by 30 cm for improved road handling, as well as a reduced silhouette. Ground clearance can also be raised to increase manoeuvrability over rough terrain. Page 4 of 7

5 Firepower The main armament of the K2 MBT comprises a 120 mm L55 smoothbore gun - fitted with a dynamic muzzle reference system, thermal sleeve, and fume extractor - indigenously produced in South Korea. The weapon offers a significant increase in effective combat range when compared with the shorter 120 mm L44 gun installed in the earlier K1A1. The K2's gun is 1.3 m longer with a total length of 6.6 m, resulting in a higher muzzle velocity compared with the K1A1, for greater accuracy and armour penetration potential. "An advanced fire-control system with automatic target detection and tracking system enables the K2's crew to find enemy vehicles at longer distances and engage them accurately," the spokesperson noted. "In addition, by applying the dynamic muzzle reference sensor [DMRS], the vehicle's firing accuracy has improved in rough terrain conditions." The gun is also fed by a bustle-mounted automatic loader, which enables the K2 to be operated by a reduced crew size of three personnel (commander, gunner, and driver) while ensuring reliable reloading of ammunition even when the MBT is negotiating difficult terrain. A total of 40 rds of 120 mm ammunition are carried, with 16 ready-to-fire projectiles in the autoloader, and 24 reserve projectiles in the main hull. South Korean ordnance manufacturer Poongsan Corporation has also developed a range of indigenous ammunition for the 120 mm gun, including the K279 armourpiercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot - tracer (APFSDS-T), and the high-explosive anti-tank multipurpose - tracer (HEAT-MP-T), which designated the K280. For additional firepower, the K2 features a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun mounted to the left side of the main gun and a 12.7 mm K-6 (M2 HB) heavy machine gun mounted on the top right of the turret for use against infantry and soft-skinned vehicles. Layout and protection The K2 MBT adopts a conventional layout with the driver's compartment located at the front of the hull, the turret in the centre, and the MTU diesel powerpack at the rear. Advanced passive armour - designated the Special Armour Package (SAP) and believed to be a composite type - is incorporated into the turret and hull and explosive reactive armour (ERA) can be fitted for a higher level of survivability. The driver is positioned at the front left and has a single-piece hatch cover and day periscope, relying on a thermal imaging night-vision device for night-time manoeuvres. The gunner and commander occupy the left and right positions in the turret. The gunner is equipped with a primary sight (GPS) that features two axis stabilisation, day and thermal capabilities with an integrated laser rangefinder. In contrast, the commander is provided with a roof-mounted panoramic sighting system - which also has two axis stabilisation, day and thermal capabilities with integrated laser rangefinder - that enables them to determine and mark hostile targets for the gunner to engage. In addition, a computerised fire-control system, that includes a Hanwa Systems dual-axis day/thermal sighting system with an integrated eye-safe laser rangefinder, enables stationary and moving targets to be engaged with a high first round hit probability under day and night conditions. Page 5 of 7

6 The K2 is also equipped with ERA installed on the turret roof and sides, while its active defensive aids suite includes laser warning receivers, radar warning receivers fitted to the frontal arc, and a battlefield identification friend or foe (IFF) system. The IFF system employs encrypted codes that change automatically to improve network security as well as survivability. A bank of electrically operated smoke grenade launchers is also affixed to the turret in a 2x6 configuration for vehicle self-protection. The K2 MBT is believed to be outfitted with Chobham-type composite hull armour as well as explosive reactive armour over critical areas. A soft-kill active protection system provides increased survivability against guided anti-armour missiles. (Kelvin Wong) "The vehicle is equipped with a soft-kill active protection system [APS] to improve its survivability from the threat of anti-tank guided missiles [ATGMs]," the spokesperson noted. "In addition, a hard-kill APS has been already developed and is ready for production." International efforts While Hyundai Rotem declined to provide details on domestic production, South Korea is expected to order more than 600 K2 MBTs to replace its ageing inventories of M48 Patton tanks and earlier models of the K1. With the second production contract in force, the company is stepping-up international marketing efforts in pursuit of export opportunities for the K2. Page 6 of 7

7 "Hyundai Rotem has been promoting the K2 MBT worldwide," the spokesperson said. "Our main target market is the Middle East, South America, Asia, and Africa, which have high demand for MBT capabilities. "The company is striving to be able to contribute to the security enhancement of the customercountries by supporting localisation of the vehicles and providing technical support and assistance for indigenous tank development besides exporting the completed vehicle," the spokesperson added. "Over the past four decades, Hyundai Rotem has been responsible for the Integrated Logistics Support [ILS] for the K1/K1A1/K2 MBT, which is used effectively by the South Korean armed forces and we will extend that success to the customer-countries with continuous ILS." For the full version and more content: IHS Jane's Military & Security Assessments Intelligence Centre This analysis is taken from IHS Jane s Military & Security Assessments Intelligence Centre, which delivers comprehensive and reliable country risk and military capabilities information, analysis and daily insight. IHS country risk and military capabilities news and analysis is also available within IHS Jane s Intelligence Review. To learn more and to subscribe to IHS Jane s Intelligence Review online, offline or print visit For advertising solutions contact the IHS Jane s Advertising team Page 7 of 7