MKE 120 mm gun
| Industry | Defense manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Turkey |
| Products | MKE 120 mm gun, other defense products |
The MKE 120 mm gun is a Turkish-developed 120 mm smoothbore cannon with a length of 55 calibers, derived from the CN08 120 mm gun design. Manufactured by the Turkish firm Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation, it serves as the primary armament on the Turkish Altay main battle tank.[1] Measuring approximately 6.6 metres (22 ft), this weapon fires high-velocity rounds and features a barrel constructed from chrome-plated specialized steel.[1]
Background
The development of the MKE 120 mm gun involved technology transfer from South Korea’s Hyundai WIA, specifically the CN08 120 mm gun, as part of the Altay tank project conducted between 2008 and 2015.[2][3][4][5] The design was adapted by MKE to meet the specific requirements of the Altay tank, and production is carried out under license.[5]
While the tank gun’s overall architecture mirrors that of the CN08, it incorporates two notable distinctions: it is fitted with a static muzzle reference system (SMRS) integrated into its thermal sleeve, and unlike the CN08, the Altay turret lacks a breech opening motor and an automatic magazine for an autoloader system. Consequently, ammunition loading is performed manually by the tank crew, with a maximum firing rate of six rounds per minute.
Ammunition
This cannon is capable of discharging a variety of tank munitions, including MKE-produced APFSDS-T (Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot), TPCSDS-T Training rounds, and High Pressure types. Additionally, it supports firing the TANOK, a 120 mm laser-guided anti-tank missile developed by Roketsan, which has an operational range between 1 and 6 kilometers. Furthermore, the gun may be compatible with standard 120×570 mm NATO tank ammunition.
See also
- CN08 120 mm gun: A South Korean 120 mm 55-caliber smoothbore cannon designed for the K2 Black Panther main battle tank.
Weapons of similar function, capability, and period
- L11A5 120 mm rifled gun: British counterpart created by the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment (RARDE) in 1957.
- 2A46 125 mm gun: Russian 125 mm variant developed by the Spetstekhnika Design Bureau during the 1960s.
- Rheinmetall 120 mm gun: German equivalent produced by Rheinmetall in 1974.
- CN120-25 120 mm gun: French design developed by Établissement d'Études et de Fabrication d'Armements de Bourges (EFAB) in 1979.
- EXP-28M1 120 mm rifled tank gun: British experimental weapon from the late 1970s to early 1980s intended for the MBT-80.
- CN120-26 120 mm gun: Another French model developed by EFAB during the 1980s.
- IMI 120 mm gun: Israeli counterpart created by Israeli Military Industries (IMI Systems) in 1988.
- OTO Breda 120 mm gun: Italian equivalent developed by OTO Melara in 1988.
- L30A1 120 mm rifled gun: British rifled gun produced by ROF Nottingham in 1989.
- JSW 120 mm gun: Japanese equivalent manufactured by Japan Steel Works in 2008.
- 2A82-1M 125 mm gun: Modern Russian 125 mm variant developed by Uralvagonzavod in 2014.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ALTAY WEAPON SYSTEM". TURKISH DEFENCE INDUSTRY PRODUCT CATALOGUE. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- ↑ "터키 전차개발 기술협력 계약 체결". Hyundai Rotem. 31 July 2008.
- ↑ "'흑표' 기술수출료 2014년까지 사용유예". Yonhap News. 11 October 2009.
- ↑ "[방산업계 울리는 ADD] 터키 수출 K-2전차 기술료 다 챙겨…'700억 돈잔치' 벌이겠다는 ADD". Korea Economic Daily. 20 October 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Altay MBT Main Battle Tank". Army Recognition. 1 October 2021.