North Korean armor: little Kim's less explosive tools

[SH_MM]

Found a few higher resolution photographs from the recent North Korean military parade. We didn't have a topic for BEST KOREAN armored fighting vehicles, so here it is.

 

New main battle tank, Abrams-Armata clone based on Ch'ŏnma turret design (welded, box-shaped turret) and Sŏn'gun hull design (i.e. centerline driver's position). The bolts of the armor on the hull front is finally visible given the increased resolution. It might not be ERA given the lack of lines inbetween. Maybe is a NERA module akin to the MEXAS hull add-on armor for the Leopard 2A5?

 

Other details include an APS with four radar panels (the side-mounted radar panels look a lot different - and a lot more real - than the ones mounted at the turret corners) and twelve countermeasures in four banks (two banks à three launchers each at the turret front, two banks à three launchers on the left and right side of the turret). Thermal imagers for gunner and commander, meteorological mast, two laser warning receivers, 115 mm smoothbore gun without thermal sleeve but with muzze reference system, 30 mm grenade launcher on the turret, six smoke grenade dischargers (three at each turret rear corner)

 

 

IMO the layout of the roof-mounted ERA is really odd. Either the armor array covering the left turret cheek is significantly thinner than the armor on the right turret cheek or the roof-mounted ERA overlaps with the armor.

 

The first ERA/armor element of the skirt is connected by hinges and can probably swivel to allow better access to the track. There is a cut-out in the slat armor for the engine exhaust. Also note the actual turret ring - very small diameter compared to the outer dimensions of the turret.

 

Stryker MGS copy with D-30 field gun clone and mid engine:

Note there are four crew hatches. Driver (on the left front of the vehicle), commander (on the right front of the vehicle, seat is placed a bit further back), gunner (left side of the gun's overhead mount, next to the gunner's sight) and unknown crew member (right side of gun's overhead mount with 30 mm automatic grenade launcher mounted at the hatch). The vehicle also has a thermal imager and laser rangefinder (gunner's sight is identical to the new tank), but no independent optic for the commander. It also has the same meteorological mast and laser warner receivers as the new MBT.

 

What is the purpose of the fourth crew member? He cannot realistically load the gun...

 

The vehicle has a small trim vane for swimming, the side armor is made of very thin spaced steel that is bend on multiple spots, so it clearly is not ceramic armor as fitted to the actual Stryker.

 

The tank destroyer variant of the same Stryker MGS copy fitted with a Bulsae-3 ATGM launcher.

 

Note that there is again a third hatch with 30 mm automatic grenade launcher behind the commander's position. Laser warning receivers and trime vane are again stand-out features. The sighting complex for the Bulsae-3 ATGMs is different with a large circular optic (fitted with cover) probably being a thermal imager and two smaller lenses visible on the very right (as seen from the vehicle's point of view) probably containing a day sight and parts of the guidance system.

 

Non line-of-sight ATGM carrier based on the 6x6 local variant of the BTR, again fitted with laser warning receivers and a trim vane. There are only two hatches and two windows, but there is a three men crew inside.

 

 

There are a lot more photos here, but most of them are infantry of missile system (MLRS' and ICBMs).

[LoooSeR]

On 10/18/2020 at 12:17 PM, SH_MM said:

/.../

Stryker MGS copy with D-30 field gun clone and mid engine:

Note there are four crew hatches. Driver (on the left front of the vehicle), commander (on the right front of the vehicle, seat is placed a bit further back), gunner (left side of the gun's overhead mount, next to the gunner's sight) and unknown crew member (right side of gun's overhead mount with 30 mm automatic grenade launcher mounted at the hatch). The vehicle also has a thermal imager and laser rangefinder (gunner's sight is identical to the new tank), but no independent optic for the commander. It also has the same meteorological mast and laser warner receivers as the new MBT.

 

What is the purpose of the fourth crew member? He cannot realistically load the gun...

/.../

 

   Maybe this vehicle have limited capacity autoloader and that 4th guy is repleneshing from main ammorack? I don't see other reasons in this case.

[Zadlo]

That's 85mm gun from Type 82, not D-30.

[Scolopax]

Are you sure? The apparent size seems right for a 122mm.  To me, it looks similar to the 2A18 on the 2S1 Gvozdika, but North Korea doesn't have any of those and the entire mounting is obviously different.  I would think that the Norks might realize an 85mm gun might be a bit small for such a fire support vehicle by today's standards.

[Ainen]

On 10/18/2020 at 12:17 PM, SH_MM said:

IMO the layout of the roof-mounted ERA is really odd. Either the armor array covering the left turret cheek is significantly thinner than the armor on the right turret cheek or the roof-mounted ERA overlaps with the armor.

 

There is a serious chance that under outer sheets there is something more reminiscent of Merkava. 

It'll explain weird layout nicely.

 

1 hour ago, Scolopax said:

The apparent size seems right for a 122mm.

Gun barell is far too thin. Muzzle brake may be oversized to protect relatively weak chassis. 

Known 122mm 8x8 howitzers(say, chinese one) had their chassis seriously reinforced, doesn't seem to be the case here.

[CrappyHead]

On 10/18/2020 at 11:17 AM, SH_MM said:

 

I like how they add an external ATGM launcher on the side rather than not even bother on applying it if the gun system isnt suitable for it 

[LoooSeR]

   New parade, same vehicles.

[LoooSeR]

 

Spoiler

 

   Rear section of countermeasures looks like are aimed at ATGM launcher, when it is folded.

 

[LoooSeR]

   Just now saw a hatch in the side plate of that ATGM carrier

 

   Abrata? Armatabs? 

 

   Few more

Spoiler

 

 

[LoooSeR]

   Closer look at new Best Korean tank

 

Spoiler

 

[LoooSeR]

New paintjob

 

Spoiler

 

[LoooSeR]

Watched parade, air part was impressive. Few screengrabs, so quality isn't great as it was recording of the stream of the parade footage broadcast.

 

Spoiler

Crew is wearing some unusual looking helmets

 

 

 

 

 

[TINDALOS]

On 4/26/2022 at 5:59 PM, LoooSeR said:

Watched parade, air part was impressive. Few screengrabs, so quality isn't great as it was recording of the stream of the parade footage broadcast.

 

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Crew is wearing some unusual looking helmets

 

 

 

 

 

That helmet looks like a mock up of Isareli "Iron Vision" helmet

[Lord_James]

29 minutes ago, TINDALOS said:

That helmet looks like a mock up of Isareli "Iron Vision" helmet

All of their new equipment are mock-ups, the only modern threat they have are their nukes. 

[LoooSeR]

6 hours ago, Lord_James said:

All of their new equipment are mock-ups, the only modern threat they have are their nukes. 

That is not true. Most of what was shown during this parade, including new missile systems, were test fired/tested/shown to work to some degree. Their glider warhead, new SRBM, IIRC all latests Hwasongs were confirmed to work by South Korean/Japan. Their NLOS ATGM also looks like works (although level of tech isn't exactly cutting edge) as we had test fire footage including from camera in missile seaker. What they sold for export were pretty ok, including up to big caliber MRLS.

Even if this new tank is just a mock up driving on parades only one can remember that T-14s, Kurganets, Boomerangs at our parades are also mock ups. Doesn't mean that there are no working vehicles in some numbers being worked on.

 

7 hours ago, TINDALOS said:

That helmet looks like a mock up of Isareli "Iron Vision" helmet

Yes, would be interesting to know what was thinking behind puttin them. It is something real that NK trying to put together, or just BEST KOREA STRNG.

[LoooSeR]

Some pics of M2020 from recent parade.

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

[LoooSeR]

On 2/10/2023 at 1:15 AM, LoooSeR said:

Some pics of M2020 from recent parade.

 

 

  Hide contents

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

[LoooSeR]

Footage of M2020 APS during test fire. I though that thing was sort of radar triggered soft kill smoke screen protection system, but looks like this is Best Korean take on Drozd-2 or Chinese GL-5 APS shown not long time ago. 

 

Spoiler

 

Note 2 munitions being launched to intercept.

 

 

 

https://t.me/nucdprk/2880

Video.

 

[LoooSeR]

And some more from a video

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

Their NLOS missile system.

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

 

NK LOS ATGM carrier.

 

Spoiler

 

[SH_MM]

M2020 has ERA now:

[Cleb]

2 hours ago, SH_MM said:

M2020 has ERA now:

 

Larger resolution image of the first picture of the M2020

 

[LoooSeR]

Side ERA looks better than their frontal solution. Front reminds me Budget Cuts 3.

[SH_MM]

The glorious leader personally inspecting the new NKStryker.

[LoooSeR]

 

NK repaired and build new structures at their tank factory. On footage of M2020 people managed to spot buildings that they used to geolocate. Maybe M2020 production line?

 

Spoiler

 

And slightly bigger pics of NK Stryker. Looks like he was driving ATGM carrier version.

 

Spoiler

 

 

[LoooSeR]

3D model of M2020 before it got additional ERA. Not very accurate - turret cheeks are sloped way to much to the sides, looking like inverted V from above instead of being closer to Abrams.

 

You can see how turret cheek behind the gun is still visible from this angle while on a model it is not. Also, LFP is wrong as well and number of driver's periscopes. But it gives look at overall layout of the vehicle, so posting it here.

 

Spoiler