Type 87

Type 87
The main Type 87 variants
Type	main battle tank
Place of origin	Daekan
Service history
In service	1988-present
Used by	Daekan
Production history
Designer	Second Sangnam Tractor Plant
Designed	1985-1989
Manufacturer	Several plants
Produced	1986-present
No. built	~1,500
Specifications (Type 67B)
Weight	42.6 t (46.9 short tons)
Length	9.47 m (31 ft 5 in) with barrel in forward position 6.68 m (21 ft 1o in) hull only
Width	3.60 m (11 ft 9 in)
Height	2.31 m (7 ft 6 in)
Crew	3 (commander, driver, gunner)
Armor	Composite with NERA elements, PGB-5 ERA
Main armament	125 mm PCh-86/125 smoothbore gun (46 rounds)
Secondary armament	12.7mm Type 54 HMG on the cupola 7.62mm Type 70 GPMG (co-axial)
Engine	Taebaek DE72 950 hp
Suspension	torsion-bar
Ground clearance	406 mm (16 in)
Operational range	750 km on road (with external fuel drums)
Speed	70 km/h (on-road)

The Type 87 (Industrial designation: Vehicle 586) is a Daekanese main battle tank first introduced in 1988. The tank is a development of the Type 76's later variants, with its more recent variants regarded as a third-generation main battle tank. The Type 87 serves as the backbone of the Daekanese People's Army tank force, and a number of vehicles also form several tank battalions of the Daekanese People's Army Navy Marine Corps. The Type 87 continues to be produced today as a cheaper alternative to the recently-introduced Type 12, which will only have a limited production circle.

Variants

===Domestic variants===.

• Type 87: Baseline variant featuring the "Type A" hull, which closely resembled that of the T-72. Production ceased in 1992.
• Type 87A: The first "main" production variant, with the "Type B" hull. Introduced in 1993. Featured the PGJ-93 gunners sight with thermal vision and a crosswind sensor.
  • Type 87A m.1995: Type 87A fitted with the improved PGJ-95 gunners sight and the Taebaek 870 hp DE62 engine.
• Type 87B: Heavily upgraded variant that entered service in 2004. Protection is reinforced with the PGB-5 heavy explosive reactive armour on the uppre glacis and the turret, giving it the distinctive "arrowhead" shape.

...WIP

Operators

• Daekan: The DPAGF and DPANMC operate roughly 1,500 Type 87s.