It’s normal that the 2RI’s side protection is 83mm with such large composite blocks? while the 2A4M’s PSO is 110mm, and the STRV-122B+ has 130mm.
It’s not, it uses the same composite add-on armor as the Strv 122B+, just thicker. I don’t know why or how Gaijin made it worse.
If this is the case, maybe a report should be made?
Here is something funny Malaysia trialed the K9 thunder in 2004 though did not buy it. The tropical testing was important though to South Korea.
Though there was a inquiry by Malaysia to South Korea on time and cost but nothing solid. K9 Thunder is now miss world wide we need to get Pandramodo to make a K9 thunder chan for the memes with all the international versions.
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An important thing to remember is that Korean hardware wasn’t that great until around the mid 2010s. The mid-2000s when MY was evaluating the K9 was right in the middle of the K1 having several barrel ruptures and major defects with the transmissions that led to K1/K1A1 production paused in 2010. There was also Yeonpyeong which while after the MY evaluation didn’t help with the K9 reputation. Really a lot of Korean hardware had a similar reputation to Chinese hardware until a little over a decade ago. It’s good that they found their footing now, but SK hardware used to be viewed very differently.
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If I remember right the Yeonpyeong island incident the K9 saw battle for the first time and kind of lost (Guess K9 and Koksan have a rivalry).
K9 on Yeonpyeong
K9s success from what I see comes from how liberal South Korea is willing to localize the repair and even production. There is also no business legal issues with the K9 concerning intellectual property as USA and South Korea cleared that issue. The K9 is also well priced for what you get a good SPG which USA does not have a equivalent to my knowledge for sale.
Malaysia did trial K9 on there soil with some intent to possibly buy it and the trials where important to Korea as K9 had not been in any meaningful tropical environment and did well enough. (tropics suck for machinery everything rusts, rubber rots, and if the AC / Dehumidifier fails everything gets gross fast) Malaysia has had some resent interest in K9 again so we will see but for point of tech tree viability K9 could be added though people my riot. Then again Korean munitions are in the Japanese tree under Thailand as export glide bombs and no one rioted about that. Funny enough Vietnam is getting K9 as payment was made. Even USA may get K9 as a turret for some vehicle under development.
The only issue comes from the engine as Germany has some connection to it and that has caused some failed bids due to Germany having sanctions on the countries South Korea was trying to export to. Unknown if Korea has a domestic engine underdevelopment for that issue. But K9 is continuing to develop there is a robot version coming with the idea of it being unmanned and slaved to a command vehicle guess for artillery that’s kind of easy you don’t really need to process a lot of data like a robot tank or IFV drone.
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I mean its the same with Ukraine wasnt it? during the early years BTR-4 has cracks in the hull when sold to Iraq, but were eventually rectified
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Yeah, I’m just saying that’s how they were at the time. I’m sure they ironed out the issues with the system.
As far as current capabilities go, the 2 current major tests for being one of the big players in terms of military tech is an MBT class powerpack, domestic A2A weapons, and a +1500-1600*C TIT jet engine. They seemingly have the powerpack figured out with production starting this year. They are working on the A2A weapons though and still a ways away from the jet engine, but now newer standards are beginning to pop up.
Like Char said the real appeal of Korean weapons at the moment is they are relatively cheap and Korean manufacturers are practically giving away all data to customers with very generous licensing agreements. Its the perfect offer for emerging economies who are looking to really kickstart their defense industries. However they still get beat out by the real titans offering much more restrictive terms when they want to get serious.
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A great example is with India with there K9 Thunder as India wants you to do joint projects and not to put restrictions on there use / technology. Korea was willing to do that from the start so India was all in and at great speed Russia could not compete on this one. This is the main reason why India and the USA F-35 deal died so fast. USA wanted India to buy the F-35 and India asked for full technology transfer and local production and USA was very confused and not willing to do that. One main reason why India and Russia have a good relationship in military equipment. Koreas almost stealth fighter KAI KF-21 Boramae is following the same K9 business concept but this time for a aircraft which may be harder but we will see.
Concerning the Ukraine was mainly they had large soviet stockpiles and technology with the need for Money. The Ukraine also had a effective industrial base with good workers but this was also not something they could sustain as once they ran out of T-80 hulls that was it. The Ukraine was also competing with other Eastern Nations with there “upgrade” packages for T-72s and other soviet era equipment. They where also willing to sell anything to anyone while also having experienced technicians looking for money so you know buy stuff to eat though this was everywhere post USSR eastern Europe. Lot of this tech would be snatched up one main buyer was China as what Russia was not willing to give to China Ukraine likely had somewhere in a warehouse / build it. (Su-33 prototype, Jet Engines, Gas Turbines, Project 1232.2 Zubr, possible Su-25UTG frame, etc.) anything that was not nailed down was sold anything that was nailed down was unnailed. China also got there hands of blue prints for just about anything from the soviet era from ships to tanks and even unbuilt stuff. Though this was a fire sale to costumers around the world with possible modifications like the Thai Oplot.
Interestingly in resent times most of this has ended due to very logical reasons and economics so China is now testing a T-72 upgrade package likely for sale (they don’t really have any T-72 besides for study).
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Found this really interesting, would love to see it someday.
Edit: realized I posted this on the ground page, have too many WT forum tabs on mobile lol
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combat capable trainer are useful with network warfare becoming a mature concept even trainers can be useful just sit in the rear being a missile truck waiting for some stealthy fighter in the front to signal you to fire at some target you cannot see.
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new toy guys,his name is T-1(T stand for Tăng(Tank))
Made in Vietnam
based on PT-76,more like 2s25
Longer and higher than PT-76
Angular turret
Extra machine gun on top
Shtora-1"homemade"
Smoke,laser rangerfinder,thermal
Slat armor for UAV counter
Offical source
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ohh i know this one, ironically i know the existence of this tank because of some vietnamese tankies/military enthusiast mocking Indonesian P8 light tank prototype as shit ass light tank while call their T-1 home made superior tank
(if your interested try to see war between Indonesian and Vietnamese Military enthusiast in X and FB, crazy stuff)
good to know,but i really don’t care about that war,like,both tank look ugly as shit,and i love it,hope one day gaijin will add them
I don’t think Vietnam sill end up in Japan I think a better fit would be a theoretical Korea tree as Vietnam (North) was supported by North Korea and the (South) was supported by South Korea. Both Vietnams got equipment and support from both Koreas and Full Vietnam got a sub from North Korea in the 90s. Vietnam is also getting K9 thunder from South Korea they have sent the money to South Korea.
K9 in soviet green with Vietnam star is going to look sick.
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Now Leo 2RI already in the game i guest PT91M could be premium or squardon vehicle? put some love on this please
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The Poland players would love to see it I would love to see it because of all the ERA and armor and fuzzy camo netting