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North Korea rolls out new
tank
By David Isenberg
Early
this year, North Korea succeeded in developing a new
main battle tank, the capabilities of which are nearly
identical to those of the T-90 tank Russia developed in
the early 1990s, according to a June 17 report in the
South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.
There had
been previous signs that North Korea was working to
develop this tank. Last August, North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il, during a trip to Russia, visited Omsk, about
2,250 kilometers east of Moscow, regarded as the center
of Russia's defense manufacturing industry. There he
toured the giant TransMash defense plant, which produces
T-80 and T-90 tanks. It was reported then that North
Korea wanted to purchase an upgraded model of a T-90
tank recently developed by the company as part of its
efforts to modernize its conventional weapons.
North Korea's development of the tank is
consistent with its emphasis on expanding ground-force
mobility. North Korea's army now has nearly 4,000 tanks,
including one it developed based on the Russian T-80, a
sample of which it brought in from Afghanistan in the
early 1990s, the most advanced type at that time. Among
the country's tanks are some 800 T-62s, 275 T-59s, -55s
and -54s, and 250 T-34s.
This is hardly the
first time that North Korea has used Russia as a role
model in terms of weapons production. Beginning in the
late 1970s, North Korea began to produce a modified
version of the 115mm-gunned T-62 tank, which was the
Soviet army's main battle tank in the 1960s. Over the
years it has become clear that North Korea has made
considerable modifications to the basic Soviet and
Chinese designs in its own production.
Although
the exact design specifications have not been revealed,
the new tank can be regarded as very advanced, given
that the T-90 main battle tank is the most modern tank
in the Russian Army's arsenal. It went into low-level
production there in 1993.
While the Russians
have developed export variants of the T-90, the T-90S
(or "C" in Cyrillic) and the T-90SK command variant, it
is unclear whether either of them was made available to
North Korea as it developed its model.
The
Russian T-90 has a 125mm main gun. It can also fire a
laser-guided missile with a hollow-charge warhead that
is effective against both armored targets and low-flying
helicopters. The missile gives the T-90 the ability to
engage other vehicles and helicopters before they can
engage the T-90. The computerized fire control system
and laser rangefinder, coupled with a gunner's thermal
sight, permits the T-90 to engage targets while on the
move at speeds of 45-65km/h, and at night.
The
T-90 compares favorably to its Western counterparts such
as the US M1 Abrams, German Leopard-2, British
Challenger-2, and French LeClerc. It weights less, its
main gun is bigger, it carries a guided weapon, the
range of its night sight is longer, and it has jammers
that disrupt the targeting systems of anti-tank
missiles. However, as this is a first-generation system
it is probably not as capable as comparable Western
systems.
The tank is fitted with precision
laying equipment and an automatic loader to guarantee a
high rate of gunfire. Secondary armament includes a
coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun and 12.7mm machine-gun
mount for air and ground targets. It also features a new
generation of armor on its hull and turret.
The
North Korean tank was developed by Ryu Kyong-su Tank
Factory in Shinhung, South Hamgyong province. The tank's
performance tests were learned to have taken place near
Pyongyang on February 16 in commemoration of Kim
Jong-il's 60th birthday. The designation of the latest
North Korean tank has yet to be confirmed. Since
Pyongyang named the tank it developed in 1985 "M-1985",
some experts speculate that it may designate the latest
one T-2002.
North Korea would not be the first
Asian country to have a variant of the T-90. As of
mid-2000 India planned to acquire T-90 tanks, based on
field trials that had already been completed. Russia had
agreed to expedite the delivery at India's request.
About 80 tanks were to be sent by April this year.
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