July 30,
2008: South Korea has sold design and
manufacturing technology, for its K1A1
and XK2 tanks, to Turkey, for $400 million. This will enable Turkey to build
250 of its own tanks. These will apparently look a lot like the South Korean
K-2 design.
Two years
ago, South Korea built a K2 tank prototype
and plans to have production models in service in the next two years. The K-2
will replace older American M-48 tanks. Two decades ago, South Korea developed,
and built, its own K1 tank. The 51 ton K1 is based on the American M1 design,
but is somewhat smaller and equipped with the same 105mm gun used by the U.S.
M60 tank. The K1 has a 1,200 horsepower diesel, instead of a 1,500 horsepower
gas turbine engine in the M1. Production of the K1 ended in 1997, with about a
thousand built.
There have
been some upgrades to the fire control and communications systems, as well as
the development of the K1A1, which has the same 120mm gun as the M1, along with
other equipment used by the M1, but not the K1. The K1A1 is apparently part of
the K2 development project, as only two K1A1 prototypes were built, and
successfully tested. There were plans to build 300 K1A1s by 2010, but this was
dropped in favor of the K2.
The new K2
is to have an improved 120mm gun, capable of firing an anti-tank missile, as
well as shells. The K2 will have a number of new electronic defenses. It will
have a laser detector that will instantly tell the crew the direction the enemy
laser beam is coming from. A tank uses its laser range finder before it fires
its main gun. The K2 fire control system will also enable the main gun to be
used to hit low flying aircraft. There are also numerous improvements to the K1
mechanical and electronic systems, as well as more armor (both composite and
ERA). This will make the K2 easier to use and maintain. An autoloader will
reduce the crew to three men. The K2 weighs 55 tons and will outclass anything
North Korea, Japan or China have.
South
Korea has long supplied Turkey with weapons and weapons technology. The two
countries have a good relationship, which began when Turkey sent troops to help
defend South Korea during the Korean War (1950-53). Turkish troops stayed to
help protect South Korea into the 1960s. The South Korean are aware that they
are descended from an East Asian Turkic people, and rather like the idea of
being distant cousins to the Turks who long ruled most of the Middle East.