Rheinmetall Defense officially introduced its newest generation Main Battle Tank (MBT), the Panther KF51 at the Eurosatory 2022 event in Paris, France. Rheinmetall said the Panther was designed with a radical new MBT concept, without being limited by the application of the previous MBT technology, although the nuances of the Leopard 2 series MBT still felt thick.
Automation is the key to Panther's presence, which is open to the adoption of the unmanned dome model and Human-Machine Teaming technology.
As the next generation MBT that refers to the NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA), the Panther KF51 is equipped with the main weapon in the form of a cannon – Future Gun System (FGS) caliber 130 mm, which is equipped with an automated ammunition handling system and an optimized sensor link to the shooter.
The Panther KF51 is so far the first MBT to adopt the integrated survivability concept of on and off-platform sensors combined with active, reactive and passive protection, as well as an anti-tank missile attack protection system from the top of the turret – TAPS (Top Attack Protection System).
Rheinmetall in its release stated that the KF51 Panther can launch the HERO 120 kamikaze (loitering munition) drone made by Uvision, Israel. From the aspect of fire power, the Future Gun System developed by Rheinmetall allows the Panther KF51's destructive power to reach 50 percent superior to cannons from 120 mm caliber, plus the Future Gun System has adopted an autoloader. Following the movement of the cannon barrel, there is a 12.7 mm caliber machine gun that operates coaxially.
All weapons on the Panther KF51 are linked to targeting sights and fire control computers via a fully digital architecture, enabling hunter-killer and killer-killer operation, seamless target engagements, and future artificial intelligence decision support.
The Panther KF51 has a combat weight of up to 59 tons, making it lighter than the Leopard 2A4 generation MBT.
Manned by three people – driver, commander and gunner, so far it has not been released about the type of engine installed on the Panther KF51, but in terms of cruising range, on its website Rheinmetall says the cruising range of this prototype MBT is 500 km.
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