Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has joined his soldiers in training on operating a new main battle tank, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on March 14.
According to the news agency, training was designed to inspect tankmen’s combat capabilities and involved the new-type main battle tank that Kim called “the world’s most powerful,”
Sporting a black leather jacket, Kim watched live-fire “training march” exercises from a field command post before mounting the new tank -unofficially known as the M2020- and driving it himself, KCNA said.
Kim expressed “great satisfaction” that the tank demonstrated its striking power in its inaugural performance display and told his troops to bolster their “fighting spirits” and complete “preparations for war”, the news agency added.
North Korea’s Defence Ministry earlier vowed to carry out “responsible military activities” in reaction to the ongoing military exercises by South Korea and the United States. The exercise training involves a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field drills, twice the number conducted last year.
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- Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
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- Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central News Agency)
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- Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central Television)
Visually, the M2020 tank, first unveiled during a parade in 2020, appears to be a mix design of the American M1 Abrams and the Russian T-14 Armata or Iranian Zulfiqar tank.
The tank is equipped with composite armor. Parts of the turret appear to have armor up to ten cm thick to defend against top-attack munitions. The tank was also seen with explosive reactive armor blocks during a parade last year.
The M2020’s main gun is derived from the Soviet 2A46 125 mm gun, which are also used on the Chonma-216 and Songun-915 tanks. The gun is equipped with a muzzle reference system to improve its accuracy when firing on the move.
A coaxial machine gun is located to the left of the main gun and an AGS-30 grenade launcher is located on the left side of the roof of the turret. The tank is also armed with two Bulsae-3 anti-tank guided missiles on the right side of the turret. The Bulsae-3 missiles are said to be reversed engineered Russian-made Kornet missiles.
The M2020 is believed to be powered by a 1,200 horsepower engine used on the Songun-915 tanks. The tank has seven road wheels, indicating that it is bigger than previous North Korean tanks. The estimated mass of the tank is 55 tons, or above 50 tons.
The roof of the turret features panoramic sights and a meteorological mast on the right side, and smoke grenade launchers at the rear of the turret protected by slat armor.
In addition, a hard kill active protection systems are possibly fitted on the lower part of the turret; two in the front corners and two on each side, each containing three tube launchers. This APS layout is similar to the Russian Afghanit featured on the T-14. The sensors used for the possible active protection systems are located in the front corners of the turret.
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- Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central Television)
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- Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central Television)
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- Click to see full-size image. (The Korean Central Television)
The number of M2020s currently in service with the North Korean military is unknown. However, the tank appears to be in production.
North Korea has for long maintained superiority over the South when it comes to the number of tanks in active military service, with reportedly more than 3,500. The M2020 was a strong addition to the country’s massive tank fleet. It also demonstrates how Pyongyang has been successfully modernizing its military despite facing strict sanctions.
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even dprk superior to my lgbt talibanned army
if your pimp pay to cumdrop to damurk–i make tank from lego…maybe this help loser amerikunt military
he can use some exercise kim jong un
he will soon take it on the occupation forces
next up is south korea. nk has all in place to move in to south korea to liberate and unify korea. nk has the state of art missiles and one of the most advanced countries in missile technology. here is a video of nk cruise missile launch conducted last year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nogkpuelhfs
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das volk ist aber sehr arm. da würden die südkoreaner nicht annehmen.
they only released photos, no videos which is kinda telling. probably the worst modern tank but i would still like to see them used in ukraine, maybe they are effective enough when used against the right targets.
i’m sure it’s more effective then any western mbt sent to ukraine as a “game changer”. 😂😂😂
inshallah, you’ll have a chance.
i don’t think he was test driving. he doesn’t fit inside any tank.
guy is a tank himself.
javelin and drone protection?
tak to je ozaj sila, že kľdr dokáže aj napriek sankciám ktoré proti kľdr uvalil darebácky štát usa dokážu takto napredovať. je to niečo úžasné!!! svetu mier!!!
“necessity is the mother of invention.” plato
we make lego and lgbt
dummkopfs in tanks. rather be in a humvee going thrice the speed and with more maneuverability. i bet some drone swarms hit harder too, but aren’t apt to blow up under your feet.