Hyundai Rotem plans to equip the Next-Generation Main Battle Tank (pictured) with different ammunition systems including 130 mm smoothbore gun, ATGMs, and APFSDS. (Janes/Oishee Majumdar )
Hyundai Rotem has revealed details about the ammunition and protection systems it intends to integrate into the Next-Generation Main Battle Tank (NG MBT).
Speaking to Janes at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX) 2024 held at Gyeryongdae from 2 to 6 October, a Hyundai Rotem official said the company is considering equipping the NG MBT with a 130 mm smoothbore gun.
“NG MBT will also be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), and multi-purpose projectiles such as Rheinmetall's DM 11,” the official said.
According to Rheinmetall, DM 11 is a 120 mm high-explosive tank round. DM 11's time-delay fuse makes it particularly suitable for supporting infantry units tasked with taking lightly fortified positions and for engaging light and medium-weight armoured vehicles. After loading, an electronic module programmes the time-delay fuse to detonate at a specific point in the projectile's flight path. The round can be timed to explode for maximum effect either above, in front of, or inside a target. This feature of DM 11 can enable it to enhance the combat effectiveness of MBTs.
The official added that NG MBT will also be integrated with an active protection system (APS), jammers to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and a directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system.
Hyundai Rotem expects to build NG MBT from 2032 to 2036 and deploy the tanks to the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) by 2038, the official said.
The company has previously told Janes
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
