Industrial Focus MT 5/2022· 63 MSPO 2022: Hyundai Rotem and PGZ Forge Relationship A model of the K2PL on display at MSPO 2022. (Photo: Robert Czulda) South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem (HRC) and PGZ signed a partnership MoU at MSPO 2022 covering cooperation in three areas: tanks, armoured vehicles and unmanned systems. It follows on from the framework agreement between South Korea and Poland signed in July. The two companies will work together on a future tank, designated K3, to be manufactured in both nations, but the first element of collaboration revolves around the K2 Black Panther tank, recently procured by Warsaw. PGZ indicated a future announcement for a local production facility. Poland plans to procure over 1,000 South Korean tanks, with current plans indicating an initial batch of 180 (for three regiments) to be built in South Korea and delivered 2022-2025, to replace the T-72s and PT-91s donated to Ukraine. After 2026, the tanks will be modified to the K2PL standard. This will embody enhanced ballistic protection, 360° sensors and a kard-kill active protection system. Poland will participate in production of the K2PL variant. Initially presented at MSPO 2018 and later in 2020, the most important difference between the standard K2 and the K2PL is enhanced side armour. This was identified as a critical design weakness in early evaluations, to which Hyundai Rotem responded with increased armour on both chassis and turret. The increased weight (from 55t to 60t) also required the addition of another road wheel. However, observers close to the programme suggest that high costs have caused the additional road wheel solution to be abandoned, and that the K2PL ‘upgrade’ may turn out to be more modest than originally anticipated. PGZ is flying a team to South Korea later this month to continue the technical dialogue. Robert Czulda reporting fromMSPO 2022 for MON Thai Defence & Security 2022: Local Manufacture for Mbombe 4 Paramount Group announced a partnership for local production in Thailand of the Mbombe 4 ICV during Thai Defence & Security 2022. The partnership involves Paramount with Thailand’s defence R&D agency the Defence Technology Institute (DTI – which operates under the oversight of the MoD) and Jatunapas, a leading Thai defence and security company. Following local assembly, the next-generation ICV will be tested and evaluated by DTI and the Thai armed forces. A Thai-assembled D-Lion (the local designation for Mbombe 4) was officially handed over to the Thai armed forces during the show. “The D-Lion combat vehicle which has been assembled in Thailand through the cooperation of DTI, Jatunapas and Paramount Group represents a first-of-its-kind in this level of combat capability. South Africa is globally recognised for its leading competence in this vehicle class, whilst Long-Range Aviation, Anatoly Zhikharev, declared that the PAK-DA would be a subsonic flying wing aircraft with a range of 15,000 km (9,300nm). Other, less official sources added that they were looking at 145t maximum take-off weight, with a war load of up to 30t. In terms of weight, this would mean that it will be about half the size of a Tu-160 BLACKJACK and halfway between the Tu-22M3 and the Tu-95MS. The PAK-DA project started in 2007 with a competition between the Myasishchev, Sukhoi and Tupolev companies, which ended in 2009 with the award of a development contract to Tupolev. Development began under the name ‘POSLANNIK’, and for Tupolev it is referred to internally as ‘Product 80’, where Product 70 is the well-known Tu-160 BLACKJACK. The first design phase ended in December 2013 with the approval and start of the next phase, with the first flight in 2019 and deliveries to the departments from 2023. Sanctions following the invasion of Crimea in 2014 forced a slowdown of the project and almost a change of plans, which led, as we know, to the reopening of the Tu-160 BLACKJACK production line and the upgrading of existing aircraft. At the end of 2017, however, the contract came to complete the development of the POSLANNIK and to produce the first prototype examples. Acceptance trials are expected to be completed by 2027. Given the production plans, the goal is probably to make the first flights by 2024. MSPO 2022: WB Group Development Contract for Gladius-2 Poland’s Armament Agency awarded WB Group a contract for development of the Gladius-2 search/strike drone during MSPO 2022 in Kielce in early September. The €10.6 million project aims to provide several prototypes for evaluation of the Galdius-2, which the Polish military plans to use in covert ISR missions and for deep strike against targets beyond 100km ranges. The requested timeframe for completion is 2022-2026. An agreement for the first generation of the drone, valued at €423 million, was signed in May this year, and represents the largest single contract ever recorded by WB Group. The company is to deliver four complete first generation Gladius systems – designated BSP-U in Polish service – together with training and logistics support packages. A system comprises launcher, command, ammunition resupply and maintenance vehicles as well as the drones themselves. All four systems will be operated by Polish artillery units in Eastern Europe. The range of the first generation is reportedly up to 100km. Gladius integrates two models of drone – the strike Gladius and an ISR drone of the FT-5 family, featuring electro-optic sensors – with WB’s Topaz integrated combat management system (ICMS), which has already been successfully integrated and is currently operational with Polish artillery units. It will support systems such as the Krab 155mm howitzers, RAK 120mm self-propelled mortars and WR-40 Langusta rocket launchers. Gladius is an entirely Polish system, designed and manufactured by an indigenous supply chain. Previously, WB Group has supplied the Polish armed forces with Warmate and Flyeye drones, which have also seen operational service with the Ukrainian Army. Robert Czulda reporting from MSP 2022 for Mönch Gladius-2 development and prototype manufacture is scheduled for completion by 2026. (Image: WB Group)
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