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The Panther KF51 is a main battle tank that is under development by Rheinmetall Landsysteme (part of Rheinmetall's Vehicle Systems division). It was unveiled publicly at the Eurosatory defence exhibition on 13 June 2022.[2] KF is short for "Kettenfahrzeug", i.e., tracked vehicle.[3]
| Panther KF51 | |
|---|---|
 Rheinmetall Panther KF51 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rheinmetall (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) |
| Designed | Commenced 2016 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 59 t (65 short tons; 58 long tons) |
| Crew | 3–4
|
Main armament | Rh-130 L/51 130 mm smoothbore gun (up to 20 ready rounds)[1] |
Secondary armament | 12.7 mm co-axial machine gun (250 ready rounds), 7.62 mm NATTER RCWS (2,500 rounds) and optional HERO 120 loitering ammunitions[1] |
| Engine | MTU MB 873 Ka-501 V-12 water-cooled diesel 1103 kW at 2600 rpm |
| Power/weight | 25 hp/t |
| Transmission | Renk HSWL 354 |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Fuel capacity | 1,100 l (242 imp gal; 291 US gal) |
The KF51 is currently based on the hull of the legacy Leopard 2A4, but the design is intended to mark a departure from the preceding generation of Western MBTs by introducing a new turret armed with an autoloaded 130 mm main gun, reducing weight through greater reliance on active rather than passive protection and facilitating teaming with uncrewed platforms by providing space inside the hull for a dedicated systems operator or unit commander.[4]
Development
Rheinmetall began the development of major subsystems related to the Panther in 2016, with system-level design commencing in 2018. The Panther has been developed as a private venture by Rheinmetall to demonstrate the potential fory by 2026.[4] increasing the lethality, mobility, survivability, and networking capabilities of MBTs without incurring a significant increase in weight. To reduce the weight of the Leopard 2A4 platform on which the development vehicle is based, Rheinmetall prioritised active over passive protection.[4]
Further developments under consideration for the vehicle including measures to make it more environmentally friendly during peacetime operations, the installation of a more powerful and more efficient powerpack, the integration of AI into the fire control system to enable automated target detection and identification, mounting an unmanned turret on the vehicle, and the creation of an unmanned version of the Panther. Efforts to make the vehicle more environmentally friendly could result in an alternative hull being developed for the Panther.[4]
Design and mobility
The KF51 is based on the hull of the Leopard 2A4, this of conventional layout for an MBT with the driver at the front, the fighting compartment/turret in the middle, and the powerpack at the rear. The driver is seated in the front right of the hull and is provided with a single-piece hatch above their position in the roof of the glacis plate. A separate crew station can be provided in the left front of the hull for either a dedicated systems operator or a unit commander. Colour cameras for the driver are installed in the centre of the front and rear of the hull.[4] Should the KF51 enter production a new hull would be designed by Rheinmetall.[4]
Where the design of the KF51 departs from that of the preceding generation of Western MBTs is by the introduction of a new two-person turret fitted with an autoloaded main gun. The rear of the turret houses the magazines for the main gun's automatic loader and pods for loitering munitions if these have been equipped. There are housings for cameras on all four corners of the turret and in the middle of each side of the turret.[1]
The Panther has a combat weight of 59-tonnes making it lighter than most Western MBTs developed prior to 2022. The powerpack, tracks and most of the running gear of the vehicle are also believed to have been derived from those of the Leopard 2A4. This Leopard 2A4 powerpack consists of an MTU MB 873 Ka-501 water-cooled V12 diesel engine producing 1,479 hp at 2,600 rpm, this coupled to a Renk HSWL 354 four-speed automatic transmission. The Panther's maximum speed has not been disclosed but it has a maximum range of 500 km. The Leopard 2A4's running gear consists of seven dual-tyred rubber roadwheels and four rubber-tyred offset track return rollers on each side, with the idler at the front and the drive sprocket at the rear. The roadwheels are supported by torsion bar suspension with advanced friction dampers. The first, second, third, sixth, and seventh roadwheels feature advanced friction dampers and hydraulic bump stops to dampen oscillations, with the fourth and fifth fitted with solid bump stops. The KF51 is fitted with an 82-link Defence Service Tracks 570F track of 635 mm width with rubber-bushed end connectors on each side.[4]
Protection
The KF51 Panther is stated to have three layers of protection: passive, reactive and active. The innermost layer consists of all-welded steel armour covered by passive armour modules. The second layer comprises sensor-based reactive armour, while the final layer consists of Rheinmetall's Active Defence System (ADS) active protection system (APS) that Rheinmetall claims is capable of protecting against kinetic energy (KE) projectiles and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). It is possible to mount the ADS on both the hull and the turret.[5][6][7][8]
The Panther is also fitted with eight Rheinmetall Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) smoke grenade launchers mounted in staggered rows of two behind the central camera housing on each side of the turret. It is also possible to integrate sensors into the Panther that can detect the launch signature of ATGMs and unguided anti-tank rockets before cueing the vehicle's crew towards the threat or launching appropriate countermeasures. The Panther can also be fitted with Rheinmetall's Top Attack Protection System (TAPS). This comprises a hard-kill element in which the coverage of the ADS is extended to the roof of the platform to protect against both ATGMs and unguided anti-tank rockets launched at high elevations, as well as a soft-kill element that aims to protect against threats such as loitering munitions. [4]
Armament
The primary armament of the KF51 is a stabilised Rheinmetall Rh-130 130 mm L/51 smoothbore gun that can be elevated from −9˚ to +20˚. Rheinmetall claims that this is capable of delivering between 18 to 20 megajoules (13,000,000 to 15,000,000 foot-pounds force) of energy onto a target and that it has a 50% longer effective range than other Rheinmetall 120 mm tank guns. The Rh-130 can fire armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition, programmable airburst high explosive (HE) and practice projectiles. The gun is fed by an auto loader that consists of two revolving drum magazines with a capacity of ten rounds each. During a test firing in April 2022, the Rh-130 mounted on a test rig was able to fire three rounds in 16 seconds, though this included the time to perform safety checks. Two hatches are located in the turret sides to allow the autoloader's magazines to be replenished within five minutes. An option is also available to carry an additional 10 rounds on the back of the vehicle outside of the hull and turret.[4]
Secondary armament consists of a coaxially mounted 12.7 mm machine gun. A remote operated weapon station can be mounted on the rear of the turret roof to provide close-in defence and a counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) capability. An option for this is the Rheinmetall Natter, which can be armed with a 7.62 mm MG that can be elevated from −15˚ to +85˚. When armed with a 7.62 mm MG, it carries 2,500 ready rounds. In addition the KF51 can be equipped with the HERO 120 loitering munition system.[1]
References
- "Panther KF51 main battle tank". Rheinmetall defence. Rheinmetall. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
- Foss, Christopher (13 June 2022). "Eurosatory 2022: Panther KF51 prowls into Paris". Shephard Media. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- "A new tank for a new era" (Press release). Rheinmetall. 13 June 2022.
- "KF51 Panther". Janes. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.(subscription required)
- Foss, Christopher F. (2005). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005–2006. Jane's IHS. p. 36. ISBN 978-0710626868.
- Krapke, Paul-Werner (1984). Das Waffensystem Kampfpanzer Leopard 2 (in German). Allgemeine schweizerische Militärzeitschrift ASMZ Nr. 5/1984. p. 240.
- Hilmes, Rolf (1983). Kampfpanzer Entwicklungen der Nachkriegszeit (in German). Report Verlag GmbH. p. 76.
- Krapke, Paul-Werner (2004). Leopard 2 sein Werden und seine Leistung (in German). Books on Demand GmbH. p. 60. ISBN 978-3833414251.
External link
- "A new tank for a new era" (Press release). Rheinmetall. 13 June 2022.
- Brochure - Meet the radically new Panther KF51
| In service | |
|---|---|
| Experimental, prototypes |
|
Background: History of the tank, Tank classification | |
На других языках
[de] KF51 Panther
Der KF51 Panther ist ein deutscher Kampfpanzer des Rüstungskonzerns Rheinmetall. Er wurde im Juni 2022 auf der Rüstungsmesse Eurosatory vorgestellt. Laut Rheinmetall ist er der erste Vertreter einer neuen Gefechtsfahrzeugfamilie.[1] Aufgrund der Aktualität der Vorstellung sind bisher nur wenige technische Daten bekannt. Die verfügbaren Informationen entstammen der Pressemitteilung Rheinmetalls.[1]- [en] Panther KF51
[es] Panther KF51
El Panther KF51 es un carro de combate principal que se está desarrollando por la empresa alemana Rheinmetall. Se anunció el 13 de junio de 2022 en Eurosatory 2022.[1] Las siglas KF es la abreviatura del término "KettenFahrzeug" que significa vehículo sobre orugas y 51 hace referencia a que su rango de peso está en el de las 50 toneladas.[ru] Panther KF51
Panther KF51 — немецкий основной боевой танк. Был представлен концерном Rheinmetall на международной выставке Eurosatory 13 июня 2022 года[1]. Имеет примерно такое же бронирование, как и у его предшественника Leopard 2A7Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.
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