Image source: topwar.ru
The Hungarian leadership decided to enter the Panther KF51 tank creation program, which is being implemented by the German Rheinmetall concern. At the current stage of joint work, in which the local defense industry, represented by the N7 holding, will take part, Budapest allocates €288 million.
- noted in connection with this event at Rheinmetall.
As indicated in the Defensa publication, at this stage of work it is planned to equip the tank with a 120 mm L55A1 cannon from Rheinmetall, which is already being installed on the latest Leopard 2 modifications. At the same time, the Panther will receive an automatic loader, while the design of the tower will allow it to be equipped with a new 130-mm gun in the future.
The Panther KF51 is based on the chassis from BRAM Buffalo. The tank receives new means of protection, in particular, the KAZ StrikeShield, which will reduce the weight of the machine [apparently by reducing the reservation]. The main crew will be represented by 3 fighters (commander, gunner and driver). In addition to them, there will be a subsystem operator in place on the left side of the front. Although a company or battalion commander who has chosen a tank as a mobile checkpoint can work instead.
According to the current concept, the total mass of the Panther should be 59 tons, a maximum speed of 70 km/h and 30 km/h in reverse, a range of more than 500 km, acceleration from 0 to 40 km/h in 8 seconds. The machine must be able to overcome: without preparation, a ford with a depth of 1.2 m, transverse slopes of 30% and longitudinal slopes of 60%, a ditch with a depth of 2.5 m, without stopping its march.
Image source: topwar.ru
In the future, the tank should receive a 130 mm L52 cannon from Rheinmetall, paired with a cal. 12.7 x 99 mm machine gun; a remote-controlled Natter RCWS turret, which can be equipped with various types of machine guns or 40 mm automatic grenade launchers, as well as a launcher for launching uVision Hero-120 barrage ammunition.
In terms of weapons of destruction, the emphasis is on new multipurpose and kinetic projectiles, the effective range of which will be more than 1,500 meters [to defeat infantry and light armored vehicles]. In the fight against tanks, Panther will be able to fire at a distance of more than 3.5 km, while piercing 1000 mm of armored steel.
During test firing from the L52, projectiles weighing about 30 kg came out with an initial velocity of about 1800 - 1900 m/s, which ensured high accuracy: the spread at 4 shots over a distance of 1 km was only 30 cm. The L52 automatic loader includes two magazines with a total capacity of 20 rounds, the reload time is 3 seconds.
The firepower is complemented by a large-caliber machine gun paired with the L52, which, thanks to its automated functions, allows hitting various types of targets at distances of about 1000 m and has an ammunition supply of at least 1,250 rounds. The Natter tower can be equipped with an AMP (Advanced Mission Pod) launcher designed to launch 4 Hero-120 drones (in the role of kamikaze or reconnaissance UAVs, depending on the filling) or two ATGM NLOS. It can also be used to place a laser installation with a power from 4 to 10 kW.
