| Hyundai WIA CN08 | |
|---|---|
 Gun barrel of the CN08 | |
| Type | Smoothboretank gun |
| Place of origin | South Korea |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2014–present |
| Used by | SeeOperators |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Agency for Defense Development Hyundai WIA |
| Designed | 2003–2008 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai WIA |
| Produced | 2008–present |
| Variants | MKE 120 mm gun |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Gun barrel: 1,324 kilograms (2,919 lb) Gun mount: 3,100 kilograms (6,800 lb) |
| Length | Gun barrel: 6.600 meters (21.65 ft) Gun mount: 7.118 meters (23.35 ft) |
| Caliber | 120×570mm NATO |
| Action | Automatic opening and closing mechanism |
| Breech | Vertically sliding |
| Recoil | Eccentric hydro-pneumatic |
| Rate of fire | 10 rds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,640 to 1,760 m/s (5,400 to 5,800 ft/s) with K279 APFSDS-T[1] 1,678 to 1,800 m/s (5,510 to 5,910 ft/s) with K279 Improved APFSDS-T[2] |
| Effective firing range | APFSDS: 3,000 meters (3,300 yd)[3] KSTAM-I: 5,000 meters (5,500 yd)[4] KSTAM-II: 8,000 meters (8,700 yd)[4] |
| Maximum firing range | APFSDS: 4,000 meters (4,400 yd)[5] |
| Feed system | Automatic feeding endless belt magazine |
TheCN08 (Cannon 08) is a 120 mm 55-calibersmoothbore tank gun produced byHyundai WIA. It is incorrectly known as the licensed production of theRheinmetall Rh-120 L/55, but it was indigenously developed by theAgency for Defense Development and WIA (now Hyundai WIA) from 2003 to 2008 for theXK2 development project started in 1995. The development was completed after the field test ended in September 2008.[6][7]
The CN08 is the main armament of theK2 Black Panther, and thegun barrel is applied with internalchrome plating technology for the large-caliber gun. The gun barrel can endure a high explosive force as a result of the increasedstiffness andwear resistance provided by this internal chromium surface.[8][9][10] The main components, including the breech ring,breech block andthermal sleeve, are simplified and designed lightly, the gun barrel weighs 1,324 kilograms (2,919 lb) and the gun mount weighs 3,100 kilograms (6,800 lb).[6]
The gun mount is composed of an eccentrichydro-pneumatic recoil system withoil reservoir for the gun barrel and is complemented by a bustle-typeautoloader powered by aswitched reluctance motor (SRM) combined with a breech controller that automatically opens and closes the gun tube,[3][6] and it can fire up to 10 rounds a minute.
The maximum permissiblepressure of the gun barrel is 744 MPa (108,000 psi),[6] and when thetank gun fires an improved K279APFSDS, the maximum proof pressure is 690 MPa (100,076 psi), and themuzzle velocity is 1,800 m/s (5,900 ft/s).[2] It depends on the type of ammunition, but the effective firing range of the tank gun is 8,000 meters (8,700 yd).[4][11]
The main armament has a dynamicmuzzle reference system (DMRS) consisting of a laser reflector, a laser emitter and a vertical sensor unit (VSU). A laser reflector assembly attached to the top of the thermal sleeve is provided to be adapted to a dynamic muzzle reference system toelectro-optically measure the accurate position of the muzzle. Themechanical gyroscope type vertical sensor unit, which calculates thelead angle andsuperelevation in real time to correct the misalignment of the aim, allows the tank to more accurately hit its intended target even when it is maneuvering on irregularterrain.[12]
CN08's 120 mm round is produced inPoongsan Corporation, a South Korean ammunition manufacturer, and can fire120×570 mm NATO tank ammunition.
| Ammunition | Compatible tank gun | Type | Penetrator | Chamber pressure | Muzzle velocity | Ammunition weight | Ammunition length | Sub-projectile weight | Sub-projectile length | Penetrator weight with fin | Penetrator length with fin | Propellant type & weight | RHA penetration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K276 | CN03, CN08,M256 | APFSDS-T | Tungsten composite | 586 MPa | 1700 m/s (L/44) | 19.7 kg | 973 mm | 7.35 kg | 703.6 mm | 600 mm | K683 (Triple-base) | >600 mm (LoS at 60° obliquity) at 2000 m | Penetrators are manufactured by Cyclic Heat-Treatment and a Double-Cycle Sintering process. | |
| K279 (XK279) | CN08[note 1] | APFSDS-T | Tungsten composite | 1760 m/s (L/55) | 21.3 kg | 998 mm | 8.27 kg | 761.6 mm | 5 kg | 8.6 kg of L15190 (SCDB) | >700 mm (LoS at 60° obliquity) at 2000 m | The penetrator is made ofW-Ni-Fe-Mo Alloy. | ||
| K279 Improved | CN08 | APFSDS-T | Tungsten composite | 690 MPa | 1800 m/s[i] (L/55) | 21.3 kg | 998 mm | 8.27 kg | 761.6 mm | 5 kg | 8.6 kg of 19-hole cylinder-type (SCDB) | New DNDA-57 energetic plasticizer for stronger SCDB propellant. |
| Ammunition | Compatible tank gun | Type | Filler | Chamber pressure | Muzzle velocity | Ammunition weight | Ammunition length | Sub-projectile weight | Sub-projectile length | Filler weight | Propellant type & weight | RHA penetration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K277 | CN03, CN08, M256 | HEAT-MP-T | Comp-B | 448 MPa | 1130 m/s (L/44) | 24.5 kg | 989 mm | 14.31 kg | 713.32 mm | K682 (Triple-base) | 600 mm | ||
| K280 (XK280) | CN03, CN08, M256 | HEAT-MP-T | Comp-B | 1400 m/s (L/55) | 23 kg | 998 mm | 11.38 kg | 792.75 mm | 2.1 kg | K684 (Double-base) |
| Ammunition | Compatible tank gun | Type | Filler | Chamber pressure | Muzzle velocity | Ammunition weight | Ammunition length | Sub-projectile weight | Sub-projectile length | Minimum range | Maximum range | RHA penetration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSTAM-I | CN08 | Terminal guidance | TSCW | 750 m/s | 2500 m | 5000 m | |||||||
| KSTAM-II | CN08 | Fire-and-forget | EFP | 21.5 kg | 985 mm | 9.03 kg | 2000 m | 8000 m |
On July 29 2008,Hyundai Rotem andOtokar signed a contract for technology transfer and design assistance for theAltay Tank Development Project. This contract includes technology transfer and design assistance for systems, armor package, and 120 mm guns required forAltay tank development.[21][22][23][24]
On July 27, 2022,Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and Hyundai Rotem signed aframework agreement to supply 180 K2s and 820 K2PLs. The agreement will include rapid arms supply and extensivetechnology transfer from South Korea, and 180 K2s will be produced in South Korea and delivered to Poland from 2022, and 820 K2PLs will be produced in Poland under license from 2026.[25][26][27][28][29][30]
