K21-105 South Korean Amphibious Light Tank
K-21-105
Amphibious Light Tank
Other
Basic Information
Name
K21-105 South Korean Amphibious Light Tank
Designation
K-21-105
Alternate Designation
K-21-105
Equipment Type
Amphibious Light Tank
Manufacturer
Hanwha
Date of Introduction
2014
Description
The K21-105 is a new light tank. It was jointly developed by CMI Defense of Belgium and Doosan DST of South Korea. In 2014, CMI Defense and Doosan DST publicly revealed the K21-105, a light tank version of the K21 chassis fitted with a CMI Defense CT-CV 105HP turret. Referred to as a medium tank by its developers, the vehicle weighs around 25 tons with a 3-man crew and is cheaper to produce and maintain, and has better mobility than actual tanks. The vehicle's main role is direct fire support for infantry against armored and soft-skinned vehicles, buildings, and fortifications. The main armament is a 105 mm rifled low-recoil gun that fires standard NATO and newly developed smart ammunition with a max direct fire range of 4 km (2.5 mi); although the gun would not be effective against modern main battle tanks, it can defeat older tanks that North Korea still has in widespread service.
Ground Specifications
Crew
3
Engine
Turbocharged Diesel (750 hp)
NBC Protection
Yes
Range
450.0 km
Variants
K21
The K-21 is lighter comparing with most modern IFVs, as it was designed using composite materials to save weight wherever possible.
System
Alternative Designation
K-21-105
Type
Amphibious Light Tank
Manufacturer
Hanwha Defense (originally Daewoo Heavy Industries, later renamed as Doosan DST, follow by Hanwha Defense Systems)
Family
K200 Series
Configuration
Track
Mission
The vehicle's main role is direct fire support for infantry against armored and soft-skinned vehicles, buildings, and fortifications.
Crew
3 ea
Dimensions
Length, Hull
6.9 m
Length, Gun Forward
8.5 m
Width
3.4 m
Height
2.6 m
Weight, Combat
25 tons
Ground Pressure
INA
Automotive
Engine Name
INA
Engine Type
Turbocharged Diesel
Engine Power
750 hp
Range
450 km
Speed, Maximum Road
70 km/h
Speed Maximum Swim
6 km/h
Gradient
60%
Side Slope
30%
Vertical Step
0.8 m
Trench
0.8 m
Fording Depth
Amphibious
Main Weapon System
Turret
CMI Defence CT-CV 105HP turret.
System
Name
INA
Type
1 x Gun
Caliber
105 mm
Length
INA
Weight
INA
Elevation
- 10° to +42°
Traverse
360°
Automatic Loading System
Yes
Maximum Range
4 km
Rounds Per Minute
8 Rounds a minute
Indirect Fire Range
Indirect range of fire is up to 10 km.
Note #1
Main armament is a 105 mm rifled low-recoil gun that fires standard NATO and newly developed smart ammunition with a max direct fire range of 4 km.
Ammunition
Note
It fires all standard NATO 105 mm ammunition. It can fire newly-developed smart ammunition.
Auxiliary Weapon System
System
Name
2 x K12 7.62mm General-Purpose Machine Gun
Type
General-Purpose Machine Gun
Caliber
7.62 mm
Manufacturer
S&T Daewoo
Length
1,234 mm
Barrel Length
560 mm
Weight
12 kg
Action
Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of Fire
650-950 rounds/min (rpm)
Effective Firing Range
800 m
Feed System
Disintegrating M13 belt
Ammunition
Type
Rifle
Caliber
7.62 mm
Cartridge
7.62×51mm NATO
Basic Load
INA
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM)
Note
The gun can also fire the Ukrainian-designed laser-guided Falarick 105 GLATGM, which has a range of 5 km and a tandem warhead capable of penetrating 550 mm of armor behind ERA.
Fire Control
Name
INA
Computerized FCS
Yes
Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander
Yes, The commander's sight is equipped with the same system as the gunner's. This allows the gunner to use the commander's sight to engage targets if his own sight is disabled or destroyed. The commander of the vehicle also has the ability to override the command to take control of the turret and gun from the gunner.
Thermal Sight Gunner
Yes, The gunner's sight is equipped with a third generation thermal viewer and a 1.54 μm laser rangefinder. It can detect targets from 6,000 meters away and identify them from 3,000 meters away.
Main Gun Stabilization
Yes
IFF
Yes
Vehicular Information System
Yes
Protection
Hull Armor
2519 aluminium alloy chassis. Layers consisting of S2 glass fiber reinforced Al2O3 ceramic armor. All round protection against 14.5×114mm API projectiles as well as 20 mm FSP.
Frontal armour is resistant to 30 mm APDS rounds fired from a 2A72 autocannon (standard on BMP-3 turrets).
Roof armour is resistant to 155 mm artillery shell fragments.
Turret Armor
All round protection against 14.5×114mm API projectiles as well as 20 mm FSP
Applique Armor
Available
Explosive Reactive Armor
Soft- and hard-kill anti-missile defense systems, ERA, NERA (only for the K21 PIP)
Active Protection System
INA
Mine Clearing
No
Self-Entrenching Blade
No
NBC Protection
Yes
Smoke Equipment
Yes
Image Sources
Notes
https://www.quora.com/What-is-a-small-tank-called-What-are-some-examples-of-small-tanks-Why-do-small-tanks-exist-if-there-are-already-bigger-tanks-available; https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/; https://en.topwar.ru/191420-s-nejasnymi-perspektivami-juzhnokorejskij-tank-k21-105-dlja-indijskoj-armii.html;
Details
Country of Origin
South Korea
Category
Tanks
Land > Tanks
Filter Label
K
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
—
Width
3.4 m
Height
2.6 m
Weight
25000 kg
Operators (1)
South Korea
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