K2E1 Main Battle Tank
| K2E1 Black Panther | |
|---|---|
tank.jpg) | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin |  Joseon |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2018–present |
| Used by | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Agency for Defense Development Doosan Mottrol Hyundai Rotem Poongsan Corporation Samsung Thales Samyang Comtech Hyundai WIA Soonyang Defense |
| Designed | 2014–2016 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Rotem |
| Unit cost | $ 6.52 million |
| Produced | 2017–present |
| No. built | 1,244 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Combat weight: 56 metric tons (55 long tons; 62 short tons) |
| Length | Overall: 10.8 meters (35 ft 5 in) Chassis: 7.5 meters (24 ft 7 in) |
| Width | 3.6 meters (11 ft 10 in) |
| Height | Highest: 2.4 meters (7 ft 10 in) Lowest: 2 meters (6 ft 7 in) |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner and driver) |
| Armor | POSCO MIL-12560H armor steel and Samyang Comtech silicon carbide non oxide ceramic plate along with ERA and NERA modular add-on armor in addition to soft-kill and hard-kill active protection systems |
Main armament | Hyundai WIA CN08 120 mm 55 caliber smoothbore gun (40 rounds) |
Secondary armament | 1× 12.7×99mm (.50 BMG) K6 heavy machine gun RCWS(3,200 rounds) 1× 7.62×51mm NATO coaxial machine gun (12,000 rounds) Soonyang Defense ATD-01T Anti-Drone system |
| Engine | HD Hyundai Infracore DV28K 4-long stroke, 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel, dry weight: 2,550 kg 1,600 hp (1,177.6 kW) |
| Power/weight | 27.3 hp/t (20.35 kW/t) |
| Transmission | EST15K (6 forward, 3 reverse gears, in development), dry weight: 2,500 kg |
| Suspension | Active in-arm suspension unit (ISU) with dynamic track tension system (DTTS) |
| Fuel capacity | 1,305 liters (345 U.S. gal) |
Operational range | 450 km (280 mi) |
| Speed | Paved road: 70 km/h (43 mph) Cross country: 50 km/h (31 mph) Acceleration from 0–32 km/h (0–20 mph) in 7.24 seconds |
The K2E1 main battle tanks are improved tanks that improve the performance of the K2 main battle tanks.
Description
The K2E1 main battle tank, like the K2 tank, is equipped with the active hydropneumatic pressure ISU(Inarm Suspension Unit) and a Dynamic Track Tension System(DTTS). The active hydrothermal pressure ISU adjusts the height of the Bogie wheel by the computer, which uses sensors to efficiently adjust the suspension according to the terrain, improving field mobility, ride comfort, and shooting accuracy during maneuvers.
DTTS is a device that measures the instantaneous tension of the tank's track and adjusts the track constantly, and it functions to maintain the track tension that changes every moment depending on the type of road surface that is grounded while driving through a computer and a hydropneumatic pressure control device.
The K2E1 tank has improved protection compared to the K2 tank. Based on the front body, the K2 tank has protection of KE 730mm and CE 900mm, while the K2E1 has protection of KE 760mm and CE 980mm. In addition, the K2E1 tank, unlike the K2 tank, is equipped with RWS(Remote Weapon System), which increases the viability of the crew in urban warfare situations. Also, The tank's over pressure equipment ensures the safety of the tank crew inside even in extreme CBRN(Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) situations.
In the 2020s, as drone threats increased and the viability of tanks began to be threatened by drones in battlefield environments, Agency for Defense Development(ADD) launched improvements to protect K2E1 tanks from drone threats by equipping them with anti-drone systems. The ATD-01T Anti-Drone system includes a 40mm air-bursting grenade launcher turret operated in conjunction with the AESA radar and the Electro-optical targeting system(EOTS), and a high-power microwave device that generates high-power microwaves. The 40mm grenade launcher turret identifies nearby enemy drones through AESA radar and EOTS, automatically tracks and aims the drones, and fires 40mm air-bursting grenades at a fire rate of 350 rounds per minute. 40mm grenades are equipped with a proximity fuse, so if the grenade approaches the drone, it will explode automatically and dump 200 pieces of debris to shoot down the drone.
High-powered microwave devices produce electromagnetic pulses(EMP) that jam with electronic devices. EMP shoots down enemy drones by disturbing radio links and obstructing or destroying enemy drones' electronic circuits.
Operators
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