Its name is a reference to the Second World War
Rheinmetall has introduced the latest German tank, called the Panther KF51. The name is a reference to one of the most capable tanks in World War II – Panzerkampfwagen V Panther. This armored vehicle was created in response to the Soviet T-34.
Panther KF51, in turn, is a worthy opponent of the latest Russian tank T-14 “Armata”.
Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, the government in Berlin announced that it would invest 100 billion euros in its army. However, the development of the new German tank dates back several years.
The biggest novelty in the Panther KF51 is the possibility of its robotics. The dome of the combat machine can be controlled remotely and there is no need for a separate operator. This reduced the tank crew by one person.
The cannon of the new “Panther” is the largest placed in a modern tank. It is 130 mm and optimized with a number of auxiliary electronic systems to increase accuracy.
By comparison, the last German Leopard-2 tank is armed with a 120-mm cannon, and Russian tanks are equipped with a 125-mm cannon.
The Panther KF51 has a 50 percent longer range than the Leopard-2, and the larger caliber guarantees higher drilling power. According to Rheinmetall, the cannon has an unsurpassed rate of fire due to the operation of automatic loading. In addition, the tank can fire kamikaze drones HERO 120. The main gun is complemented by a 12.7 mm coaxial machine gun.
All weapons are connected to the fire control computer and equipped with an artificial intelligence system.
Panther KF51 relies on a crew of three, but planned upgrades will allow 100% remote control of the tank. The new Panther is also capable of serving as a control station for combat and reconnaissance drones.
The fully digital system allows each crew member to play the role of the other in the event of an injury.
Rheinmetall describes the tank as the first of its kind in terms of defense.
Panther KF51 has active protection, which neutralizes the ammunition fired at the tank. In addition, there is a jet and passive armor of the latest generation.
The weight of the new “Panther” is quite optimized and is about 59 tons. In comparison, the most modern version of the Leopard-2 weighed over 70 tons.
The drive is provided by a diesel engine with a power of 1,475 hp, and with one tank the tank can travel 500 km.
According to military analysts, the new tank, whose name suggests associations with the Wehrmacht, effectively puts an end to plans to create a new-generation joint German-French tank. Rheinmetall was dissatisfied with Paris’ leading position in development and its secondary role.
The Panther KF51 is expected to have very large export potential, but Berlin has not yet revealed the price of the tank.
