K2 Black Panther
K2 Black Panther







The K2 Black Panther, formerly known as the KFMBT or Korean New Main Battle Tank, is a Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed to meet future requirements of the South Korean Army replacing eventually M48 series MBTs in service with the Korean Army. It is powered by a compact Doosan Infracore 1,500-hp diesel engine and armed with a 120mm 55 calibers smoothbore gun with and auto-loading system which reduces the tank's crew to three persons. The tank carries 40 120mm rounds and secondary armament includes a 12.7mm machine gun and a 7.62mm machine gun. A target auto-tracking system, electric gun and turret drive system, fully compatibility with digitized battlefield, advanced armor, active and passive protection systems, and warning systems for improved survivability have been introduced in the K2 main battle tank. The K2 leverages the gunner's primary sight and the commander' panoramic sight from the K1A1 main battle tank. The fire control system includes a Extremely High Frequency (EHF) radar as well as electro-optical (laser rangefinder and thermographic camera) sensors. The K2's tank fire control system can track a target at a distance of 9.8 kilometers. The first production tanks rolled off the Hyundai Rotem assembly line in 2007 and are expected to achieve operational capability with the Republic of Korea Army by 2011-2014 timeframe. The Republic of Korea Army plans call for the procurement of 390 K2 tanks. So far, the only export customer is Turley which will produce up to 250 K2/Altay tanks locally with Turkish contractors with deliveries beginning in 2015. The K2/Altay might be equipped with a 140mm smoothbore gun.
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