Reference photo · Configuration may differ
Credit
Staff Sgt. Jason Cochran · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
K2 Black Pantherlarger figure on 0 of 1
Merkavalarger figure on 1 of 1
Measured figures
Chassis
Single sourceOverall
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | K2 Black Panther | Merkava |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Main battle tank[source] | Main battle tank[source] |
| Place of origin | South Korea[source] | Israel[source] |
| In service | 2014–present[source] | 1979–present[source] |
| Used by | See Operators[source] | See Operators[source] |
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
Overall: 10.8 meters (35 ft 5 in) Chassis : 7.5 meters (24 ft 7 in)[source]
excl. gun barrel
Single sourceincl. gun barrel
Single source9.04 m or 29.7 ft (incl. gun barrel) 7.60 m or 24.9 ft (excl. gun barrel)[source]
Maximum; Cross country Acceleration from
Single sourceMaximum; Paved road
Single sourcePaved road: 70 km/h (43 mph) Cross country: 50 km/h (31 mph) Acceleration from 0–32 km/h (0–20 mph) in 7.47 seconds (MT883 Ka-501) or 8.77 seconds (DV27K)[source]
Maximum; Off-road
Single sourceMaximum; On road
Single sourceBatch I: STX Engine/ MTU Friedrichshafen MT883 Ka-501 4- short stroke , 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel, dry weight: 2,064 kg Batch II-IV: HD Hyundai Infracore DV27K 4- long stroke , 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel, dry weight: 2,550 kg
Single sourceEngine
Single sourceBatch I: STX Engine/ MTU Friedrichshafen MT883 Ka-501 4- short stroke , 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel, dry weight: 2,064 kg 1,500 hp (1,103 kW) Batch II-IV: HD Hyundai Infracore DV27K 4- long stroke , 12-cylinder water-cooled diesel, dry weight: 2,550 kg 1,500 hp (1,110 kW)[source]
MTU 12V883 turbocharged diesel engine (4, 5)
Single sourceMTU 12V883 1119 kW (1501 hp) turbocharged diesel engine (4, 5)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Designer | Agency for Defense Development Hyundai Rotem Poongsan Corporation Hanwha Systems Samyang Comtech Hyundai WIA Doosan Mottrol[source] | Mantak[source] |
|---|
| Designed | 1995–2008[source] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Rotem[source] | Mantak, IDF Ordnance Corps (assembly)[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | ₩ 7.8 billion (production batch 1) US$ 8.5 million (constant 2009 USD)[source] | $3.5 million (Merkava IV for delivery to the IDF, FY2003) (c. $5.85 million, FY2023) $10 million (Merkava IV) (2014 price for sales to other countries)[source] |
|---|
| Produced | 2008–present[source] | 1979–present[source] |
|---|
| No. built | Republic of Korea Army : Batch I: 100, Batch II: 106, Batch III: 54, Batch IV: 150 (ordered) Polish Land Forces : Batch I: 180, Batch II: 180 (ordered) Total: 440[source] | Mark 1: 250 Mark 2: 580 Mark 3: 780 Mark 4: 360 in service + 300 units being delivered[source] |
|---|
| Armor | MIL-12560H armor steel and silicon carbide non-oxide ceramic plate along with ERA add-on armor[source] | Classified composite / sloped armour modular design.[source] |
|---|
| Main armament | Hyundai WIA CN08 120 mm 55 caliber smoothbore gun (40 rounds, 16 available in the bustle autoloader )[source] | 120 mm (4.7 in) MG251-LR smoothbore gun, capable of firing LAHAT ATGM[source] |
|---|
| Secondary armament | 1× 12.7×99mm NATO K6 heavy machine gun (3,200 rounds) 1× 7.62×51mm NATO coaxial machine gun (12,000 rounds)[source] | 1 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) MG 3 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) MG 1 × Mk 19 grenade launcher 1 × 60 mm (2.4 in) internal mortar 12 × smoke grenades[source] |
|---|
| Power/weight | 27.3 hp/t (20.35 kW/t)[source] | 18.8 kW/t[source] |
|---|
| Transmission | Batch I-III: RENK HSWL 295 TM (5 forward, 5 reverse gears), dry weight: 2,450 kg Batch IV: SNT Dynamics EST15K (6 forward, 3 reverse gears), dry weight: 2,500 kg[source] | Renk RK 325[source] |
|---|
| Suspension | Semi-active in-arm suspension unit (ISU) with dynamic track tension system (DTTS)[source] | Helical spring[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 1,296 liters (342 U.S. gal)[source] | 1400 litres[source] |
|---|
| Wars | — | 1982 Lebanon War South Lebanon conflict First Intifada Second Intifada 2006 Lebanon War Gaza War Operation Pillar of Defense Operation Protective Edge Gaza war[source] |
|---|
| Payload capacity | — | 48 rounds[source] |
|---|
| Ground clearance | — | 0.45 m (1.5 ft)[source] |
|---|
64 km/h (40 mph) on road 55 km/h (34 mph) off road[source]