Hyundai Rotem Releases K3 Design, Future Generation of South Korean Main Battle Tank
The defense equipment manufacturer from South Korea, Hyundai Rotem is quite successful with the production of hundreds of units of the K2 Black Panther Main Battle Tank (MBT).
K2 even managed to achieve success for the export market to Poland and was produced under license by Turkey.
However, Hyundai Rotem did not stop at the K2 design, preparing for the 2030 decade, Hyundai Rotem has released the Next Generation Main Battle Tank (NG MBT) concept.
The NG MBT concept from Hyundari Rotem is referred to as the K3.
Quoted from defense-blog.com (18/6/2023), it is said that the K3 concept is based on a modular platform with a cabin at the front and a power-pack (engine) at the rear.
The NG MBT K3 has a low silhouette with reduced visibility at radar and infrared range, making the K3 nearly invisible to the enemy.
At the same time, anti-tank missiles and other weapons systems will have stealth capabilities thanks to the integration of technology in the turret.
The K3 hull will be equipped with a modular armor system made of a mixture of steel, ceramic and composite materials.
Among its innovative characteristics is its unmanned turret, which includes a remotely controlled 130 mm smoothbore main gun with fully automatic loading.
The K3 requires only three crew members – driver, gunner and tank commander who are housed in the crew compartment located in the armored capsule at the front of the hull, isolated from the autoloader system as well as the ammunition storage in the center of the tank.
The K3 design is based on a capsule-type crew compartment which allows the tank to be used in extreme conditions with maximum ballistic and mine protection.
The tank hull also offers a high level of protection using passive and active armor.
South Korea's future MBT will also be equipped with an APS (Active Protection System) to defeat missile or rocket-propelled grenade attacks at 360° around the vehicle as well as a detection system and defeat IED (Improvised Explosive Device).
Each side of the dome will also be equipped with smoke grenade launchers.
The K3 is projected to have a combat displacement of 55 tons and will be powered by a diesel engine which will enable the MBT to reach a maximum speed on the highway of 70 km per hour and 50 km per hour in off-road conditions with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.
Suspension will use rubber track technology.
Standard equipment on the K3 will include the latest generation of communications and observation equipment to conduct combat operations during the day and night and in all weather conditions.
It will also be equipped with C5ISR, command, control, computing, cyber information, surveillance, reconnaissance, and high-speed communications systems.
Reportedly, the South Korean military has requested the development of the K3 tank to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, because the K2 Black Panther MBT has reached its maximum potential, and it has been approved.
The first prototype of the NG MBT K3 is planned to be shown in 2030.
