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.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/DG06Dg01.html

don't underestimate the might of North Korea

anway one interested

Until a photo and other, more concrete information is available, I think this report should be taken with a grain of salt.  And even if we were to assume all of this were true, I don't see how the North Koreans will be able to procure these in large numbers unless China buys it for them, which I doubt.

And one more thing: please post a link or a proper bibliography the next time.

The only way this could be a problem to western powers is if they totally re-fit their tank fleet to at least T-80/T-90.... im sorry but T-54 and older models as well are no match for a single soldier with a M-72 (LAW)

couple hits from those which the platoon should be carrying at least a dozen is no match.

The East still have old Russian style tanks.

What is the state of N. Korea’s industrial capabilities?
If you want to produce any kind of a tank, you need immense industrial capabilities.
Just to produce enough steel, or have the technology to produce the powerful engines is a mammoth task, which I’m not entirely convinced North Korea has!

But it should also be noted that the T-90 is significantly inferior to the western equivalents, mainly in the area of modern armour and survivability in the batter field!


“THE WORLD IS A BRIDGE, CROSS IT, BUT BUILD
NO HOUSE UPON IT!”


CHURCHILL: "If Hitler invaded Hell, I would at least make a favourable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons"

Donald Rumsfeld: "There are known knowns…are there are known unknowns. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don’t know we don’t know"





CIA agent Geoffrey Kemp talking about Saddam Hussein:

“WE KNEW HE WAS A SON OF A BITCH, BUT HE WAS OUR SON OF A BITCH”

To: Diunei Lingyen

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/DG06Dg01.html

happy now?

I'm sure many of you know me from WAFF, so I'll cut the newbie introduction

This 'T-90 equal' is believed to be upgrades of pre-existing T-72s of North Korean arsenal. It is inconcievable that North Korea managed to rig up T-90 equal after only several years with their level of technology. They can manage armor of lower quality perhaps, some ERA technology, and maybe the gun. Everything from optics to engine must be imported.

South Korean military forum conclusion: engineers at Ryu Gyung Soo tank factory staged a little show for their 'Dear Leader'.

Too many countries rely on others to do its preotection for itself.

I mean countries buy and sell military goods like a market..

I dont like this. every country which can support a organized military should build and manufacture their own goods in the country and design their own.

Keep the goods in the country and do not sell to other nations. Even if it is a ally.

That's just not possible because it is just too expensive for smaller countires. Large countries can take advantage of economies of scale and cost per unit of whatever is much lower. Of course, it would be nice

May God Bless China!

To: Hawkssss

what the hell u talking about Hawkssss just because a country is small does not mean it cannot have T 90.

Look at South Korea they have T 80U which is not much different from a T 90 and i am sure South Korea could get some T 90

And look at Ukraine,Pakistan these countries could both buy T 90 tanks and trust me singapore is a dot and they could also afford T 90 as well

yeah, but S. Korea is not small in terms of its economic size. Plus, they only produce a small fraction of their own arms, they buy, i don't know, 90% of their crap from US. Plus, how do you think little countries like switzerland, iceland, nepal can develop their own military complex?

May God Bless China!