Rheinmetall KF51 Tank: German defence company Rheinmetall Monday unveiled its futuristic KF51 Panther main battle tank (MBT), which has a 130 mm main gun and is being described as better than Russia’s latest main battle tank Armata, at French defence exhibition Eurosatory. The KF51 Panther main battle tank is equipped with several futuristic features which includes protection against killer drones that have demonstrated their lethality against Russian armored vehicles in the war with Ukraine.
Rheinmentall said the latest member of its tracked vehicle, the KF51 Panther, is destined to be game changer on the battlefields of the future. KF is short for ‘Kettenfahrzeug’, which means tracked vehicle.
According to the defence company, the main battle tank concept sets new standards in all areas – lethality, protection, reconnaissance, networking and mobility.
“All weapon systems are connected to the commander’s and gunner’s optics and the fire control computer via the fully digitalised NGVA architecture. This enables both a hunter-killer and a killer-killer function and thus instantaneous target engagement – in the future also supported by artificial intelligence (AI),” Rheinmetall said in a statement sent to Defence Star.
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KF51 Panther MBT in action.
Rheinmetall’s KF51 Panther Main Battle Tank
German defence giant which also produces Boxer and Lynx family of infantry vehicles says with the main armament 130mm Rheinmetall Future Gun System, the KF51 Panther offers superior firepower against all current and foreseeable mechanised targets.
In addition, further armament options are available to provide concentrated firepower for long-range strikes and against multiple targets, it said.
The Rheinmetall Future Gun System (FGS) consists of a 130 mm smoothbore gun and a fully automatic ammunition handling system. The autoloader holds 20 ready rounds. Compared to current 120 mm systems, the FGS delivers over fifty percent greater effectiveness at significantly longer ranges of engagement. The FGS can fire kinetic energy (KE) rounds as well as programmable airburst ammunition and corresponding practice rounds, Rheinmetall said.
A 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun complements the main weapon while multiple options for the integration of remotely controlled weapon stations (RCWS) offer flexibility for proximity and drone defence.
The KF51 Panther presented at Eurosatory 2022 is equipped with Rheinmetall’s new “Natter” (adder) RCWS in the 7.62 variant.
Integrating a launcher for HERO 120 loitering munition from Rheinmetall’s partner UVision into the turret is equally possible. According to Rheinmetall, it enhances the KF51’s ability to strike targets beyond the direct line of sight.
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The Panther has a fully integrated, comprehensive, weight-optimized protection concept, incorporating active, reactive and passive protection technologies.
“Without a doubt, the concept’s most compelling feature is its active protection against KE threats. It increases the level of protection without compromising the weight of the system,” Rheinmetall said in the statement.
KF51 Panther MBT has 130mm main gun.
KF51 Panther’s top attack protection system (TAPS)
Rheinmetall’s Top Attack Protection System (TAPS) wards off threats from above, while the fast-acting ROSY smoke-obscurant systems conceals the KF51 from enemy observation. Moreover, its digital NGVA architecture enables integration of additional sensors for detecting launch signatures.
The KF51 Panther MBT can recognize and neutralize threats at an early stage due to its pre-shot detection capability. Designed to operate in a contested electromagnetic environment, the KF51 is fully hardened against cyber threats.
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Controllability and Networking
The KF51 Panther features a new operating concept. It is basically designed for a three-person crew: the commander and gunner in the turret and the driver in the chassis, where an additional operator station is available for a weapons and subsystems specialist or for command personnel such as the company commander or battalion commander.
KF51 MBT, which has been designed in accordance with NGVA standards, has fully digital architecture enables seamless integration of sensors and effectors both within the platform as well as into a networked system of systems.
Operation of sensors and weapons can be transferred instantly between crew members. Each operator station can take over the tasks and roles from others, while retaining full functionality. Since the turret and weapons can also be controlled from the operator stations in the chassis, variants of the KF51 Panther with unmanned turrets or completely remote-controlled vehicles are also planned in the future.
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Rheinmetall Lynx IFV.
Reconnaissance and situational awareness
Rheinmetall says due to its panoramic SEOSS optical sensor and EMES main combat aiming device, the commander and gunner are both able to observe and engage targets independently of each other, both day and night, while a stabilized daylight and IR optic with integrated laser rangefinder is available to both. In addition, via a display in the fighting compartment, the crew has a 360°, round-the-clock view of the vehicle’s surroundings.
Integrated, unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems enhance the crew’s situational awareness in built-up areas and in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. With these, the crew can also conduct reconnaissance under armour protection and share the results with other actors in a networked manner.
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Mobility advantage
The KF51 Panther builds on the mobility concept of the Leopard 2. With an operational weight of just 59 tons, it delivers far greater mobility than current systems and has a maximum operating range of around 500 kilometres.
Without prior preparation, it fits into the AMovP-4L profile, something no other current main battle tank upgrade can do. Consequently, the KF51’s tactical and strategic mobility set it apart. Rheinmetall says due to its innovative development approach, users, maintenance specialists, logisticians and procurement experts from all current and future user nations can play an active role in shaping the vehicle’s future.
The German defence giant has significant exposure in establishing global supply chains in cooperation with other user nations to make sure that a large share of production is carried out in-country.
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Rheinmetall Kodiak combat engineering vehicle in action.
Futuristic MBT KF51
In developing the KF51, Rheinmetall not only set out to modernize existing main battle tank concepts. Starting from scratch, it completely reconceived the platform.
The KF51 Panther can be easily updated and equipped with the latest capabilities and functions. Its advanced, modular, open NGVA system architecture enables iterative development, which can then be updated in harmony with innovation cycles. The KF51 is the first representative of a new generation of combat vehicles.
“Soon, future innovations will enable environmentally friendly peacetime operations and further optimization regarding automation and combat effectiveness,” said the company.
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