The K2 Black Panther features that the Polish Army loves: “It is an excellent tank”

Poland is undergoing a major process of strengthening its armed forces in response to the growing threat of Russian imperialism.

Polish K2 Black Panther tanks open fire for the first time some 57 km Russia
Poland presents its new K2 Black Panther tanks to curb Russia's ambitions

Of the multiple arms purchases that Poland is making, especially for its Ground Forces and its Air Force, the most notable in numerical terms is the acquisition of 1,000 South Korean K2 Black Panther battle tanks.

This vehicle will be the main iron fist of the Polish Land Forces, which is also in the process of equipping itself with 366 M1 Abrams tanks (116 M1A1 FEP and 250 M1A2 SEPv3 tanks), in addition to more than 200 Leopard 2s (71 Leopard 2A4, 105 Leopard 2A5 and 62 Leopard 2PL) and about 200 PT-91 Twardy. The purchase of the K2s fills the gap left in the Polish Army by the transfer of its large arsenal of Soviet-made T-72 tanks to Ukraine.

This Thursday, the Polish military daily Polska Zbrojna devoted an article to the K2 Black Panther., on the occasion of the training process that the Polish Army is carrying out at the Ground Forces Training Center (CSWL) at the Biedrusko training ground, near Poznań, in the Wielkopolska Voivodeship. Lieutenant Colonel Maciej Łukarski, commander of the CSWL Combat Vehicle Battalion, said: "I can only confirm that the K2 is an excellent tank."

Having had the opportunity to fire the K2's 120 mm main gun, Łukarski adds: "The accuracy and ease of firing are really impressive here. I only regret that when I was still a platoon commander in a linear unit, our Army did not have such equipment."

The K2s are being deployed to the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Braniewo, attached to the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division. The brigade was previously equipped with the PT-91 Twardy, a modernized Polish version of the Soviet T-72. The technological leap is considerable. Keep in mind that the T-72 is a tank from the 1970s and that the PT-91 entered service in 1991, while the first K2s were received in 2014 by the Republic of Korea Army.

In order to prepare its K2s, the Polish Army has been assisted by South Korean supervisors, who have checked that the tanks delivered to Poland are in perfect working order. In addition to the K2s being delivered to Polish combat units, four Black Panthers were delivered to the CSWL in October, in order to train Polish crews of these vehicles.

One of the most notable features of the K2 is that it has a projectile exclusive to this model: the KSTAM, a type of smart munition whose characteristics are secret. It is fired with a parabolic trajectory similar to that of a howitzer and has an effective range of 2 kilometers and a maximum range of 8 kilometers. It is capable of firing at hidden targets and descends on its target with a parachute. It has a gyroscopic guide and a type of microradar that can select its targets during descent.

Another of the K2's great advantages is its active protection systems, such as the MAWS, which provides missile warning by automatically firing smoke grenades to block enemy optical targeting systems. It also has a RWR radar signal detection system and a system to jam these signals. The K2PL version, which will be manufactured in Poland, will have the Israeli Trophy active protection system, to protect against anti-tank grenades and missiles.

On the other hand, the K2 is easier to handle than the Abrams or Leopard 2, as it has an autoloader, so it only needs three crew members: commander, gunner and driver. Like its Western counterparts, the K2 is equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore cannon, a Hyundai WIA CN08 L55. The tank carries 40 rounds for its main gun. In addition, the K2 is fitted with a 12.7 mm K6 coaxial machine gun, the South Korean version of the Browning M2HB.

In terms of other features, the K2 is similar to the Abrams and the Leopard 2. It can reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h and has a range of 450 km. However, there is a notable difference between the Korean tank and the other two mentioned: the K2 weighs 55 tons, compared to 63 for the M1A2 SEP and 63.9 for the Leopard 2A7V. The K2 is powered by a 1,500 HP Hyundai Doosan Infracore DV27K diesel engine. Another notable feature of the K2 is its advanced ISU suspension system, which allows the height of the vehicle to be adjusted, giving it a lower profile in defilade positions, for example.

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Photos: Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych Poznań / 16 Dywizja Zmechanizowana / 9 Braniewska Brygada Kawalerii Pancernej.