Due to the secrecy traditional for this country, North Korean tank construction is of great interest to foreign experts. However, how North Korea's heavy tracked vehicles are being improved can only be judged by reports from military parades held in Pyongyang and by rare photo reports directly from military units.
For example, the newest of the DPRK tanks, which is considered similar to both the Russian T-14 and the American M1A2 Abrams, was demonstrated only once - in November last year during celebrations dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea. And here he is again presented at the exhibition of achievements in the development of the state defense "Self-Defense - 2021", which opened in Pyongyang.
Despite the fact that the tank, along with mobile missile systems of various types, air defense systems, has become one of the main exhibits of a large-scale event, it is difficult to call it a new generation combat vehicle. Most likely, it is a development of the family, which is based on the T-62. This Soviet medium tank began to be produced in the Country of Morning Freshness in the mid-70s. It was constantly being improved, and the versions that appeared in the new century no longer looked much like the original.
Thus, multilayer armor and dynamic protection were introduced into the design. The design of the chassis has changed, for example, the number of support rollers has increased, the power of power plants has increased.
Much attention was paid to additional weapons, 14.5 mm KPVT machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank guided weapons systems and small-sized anti-aircraft missiles were installed on tanks.
As for the newest tank, it still has an inhabited tower of a slightly modified angular shape with more reliable roof protection. The crew received improved sighting equipment, including a panoramic sight, as well as an optoelectronic counteraction complex, and there are other changes.
At the same time, there is no evidence yet that these tanks are in mass production. Apparently, we are still only prototypes produced in small quantities.
Alexey Moiseev
