North Korea unveiled its newest fundamental battle tank, the Cheonma-2, on the 2024 Nationwide Protection Growth exhibition, marking a big step within the nation’s navy modernization efforts. The Cheonma-2 shares clear visible similarities with Russia’s T-14 Armata, notably in its futuristic, angular design.
Each tanks characteristic totally automated turrets, eliminating the necessity for a crew within the turret itself, and have low-profile hulls geared toward offering higher safety and stealth.
The Cheonma-2 additionally mirrors the T-14 when it comes to general structure, together with using composite armor and lively safety programs. Nonetheless, there are key variations. The Cheonma-2 is anticipated to be much less superior when it comes to electronics and sensor integration in comparison with the T-14, which advantages from cutting-edge Russian know-how.
Moreover, the engines and mobility capabilities of the Cheonma-2 could not match the efficiency of the Armata, as North Korea probably nonetheless lags behind when it comes to high-performance powertrains.
Regardless of these variations, the visible similarities can’t be ignored, signaling North Korea’s deal with adopting trendy tank options from main designs worldwide. The Cheonma-2 blends components from numerous tank fashions, together with the U.S. M1 Abrams, Russia’s T-14 Armata, and Iran’s Zulfiqar, with its configuration resembling the latter extra intently.
The entrance of the turret has sloped armor plates much like these discovered on the M1 Abrams, whereas the hull is bolstered with slat armor on the rear, akin to the T-14. The glacis plate of the tank differs barely from the T-14, and the driving force’s place is situated on the entrance of the hull.
The Cheonma-2 is provided with composite armor, believed to be on par with the third-generation fundamental battle tanks, and is probably going modular in design. Elements of the turret have armor as much as 10 cm thick to guard in opposition to top-down assaults.
In comparison with the older Songun-915 tank, the commander is positioned on the correct aspect of the turret, which can point out the inclusion of an autoloader, though the presence of a fourth crew member makes this unlikely.
The tank’s major armament is probably going a 125mm smoothbore gun, which can also be utilized in different North Korean tanks just like the Chonma-216 and Songun-915. The tanks are additionally geared up with a coaxial machine gun and an AGS-30 grenade launcher, mounted on the left aspect of the turret.
Moreover, the tanks are armed with two Bulsae-3 missiles, mounted in a retractable launcher on the correct aspect of the turret. These missiles are much like the Soviet 9K111 Fagot or the 9M133 Kornet missiles however are bigger in diameter [150mm], offering higher penetration capabilities.
The Cheonma-2 is outfitted with an lively safety system [APS] situated on the backside of the turret, with 4 launchers—two on the entrance corners and two on the perimeters. This technique is designed to intercept incoming missiles and different threats, comparable to RPG-7s, and resembles the Russian Afghanit system put in on the T-14.
The system was efficiently examined through the 2023 Weapons and Tools Exhibition in Pyongyang. The delicate sensors for the APS are probably situated on the entrance corners of the turret.
The Cheonma-2 options new panoramic sights, a meteorological mast, and smoke grenade launchers on the turret roof. The commander and gunner’s thermal sights and commentary cameras will improve the tank’s capabilities in night time fight and enhance concentrating on accuracy.
The Cheonma-2, revealed through the Seventy fifth-anniversary parade of the Staff’ Occasion of Korea, alongside the Hwasong-16 ballistic missile, has captured the eye of navy analysts and protection consultants worldwide.
Given its trendy options, there’s appreciable hypothesis that the Cheonma-2 could have acquired help from Russia or China, each of which have expertise with know-how transfers to North Korea.
The 9 tanks displayed through the parade in Pyongyang are probably prototypes or experimental fashions marking the start of a brand new section within the improvement of North Korea’s armored autos.
Curiously, the Cheonma-2 was painted in desert camouflage through the parade, which raised questions as there are not any desert areas on the Korean Peninsula.
This uncommon colour scheme has sparked numerous theories—some recommend it was chosen to position the tank within the context of Western, Russian, or Chinese language fashions, whereas others imagine it’s a part of a method to make the tank extra interesting for export to worldwide arms markets.
Whatever the reasoning behind the camouflage selection, the Cheonma-2 displays North Korea’s dedication to modernize its navy capabilities regardless of ongoing worldwide sanctions and arms embargoes. The Cheonma-2, together with the opposite weapons displayed, is seen as a logo of North Korea’s resilience and ingenuity in protection trade improvement.
Professor Sung Woo, a South Korean navy skilled, expressed the view that the Cheonma-2 is a big technological leap over older North Korean tanks. He hinted at potential Iranian involvement, noting that North Korea and Iran have collaborated on navy applied sciences, notably within the area of tanks, such because the Zulfiqar-3 mannequin.
Evaluating the Cheonma-2 to older North Korean tanks and trendy international designs, Professor Woo categorized the brand new tank as one thing between a third- and fourth-generation fundamental battle tank.
He concluded that the Cheonma-2 may pose a severe menace to South Korea’s K1 and K2 tanks and that the South Korean navy would wish to enhance its networking capabilities and develop lively safety programs to counter the potential of the Cheonma-2.
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