The Panther KF51 is the new main battle tank of Germany's Bundeswehr and it will be mass produced as a replacement for the Leopard 2. It is equipped with new type of armor, a more powerful gun and a stronger engine. This latest generation of tank was designed and developed by Rheinmetall as it will be combat-ready and fielded at the beginning of 2023. Nevertheless, the Leopard 2A6 and 2A7 version will still remain in service for a long while.
The Panther KF51 has just been introduced to the public in the Eurosatory 2022 defense exhibition in Paris, France. Although it looks like a mighty tank, some international political analysts heavily criticized the name of this powerful armored vehicle, because it has the same name of the Panzer V "Panther" tank of World War II. They said that the Germans still feel nostalgia for the Third Reich, when Germany was free from the USA's geopolitical influence; a time when elitist, globalist billionaires did not have the power and string-pulling capacity they have today.
Technical Characteristics
The Panther KF51 features a new 130-mm L/55 gun, which also replaces the 120-mm L/44. Although Rheinmetall spokesman at the Paris weapons show stated all technical features are still confidential information, weapons engineers estimate that the new Panzer weighs around 67 tons as it is powered by an MTU twin turbo diesel engine that generates 1,800 HP. It is also fitted with the most modern high-tech sensors, which enable this new German tank to fight at night, in the fog, and in all weather conditions.
Armor
The kind of armor that protects the crew is unknown, but it is estimated it is composed of different materials, which include tungsten carbide, ceramic, and a steel-nickle-titanium alloy. Tungsten and ceramic can resist the extremely high temperature of some types of anti-tank missile and gun munitions, while the three-metal alloy is impact-resistant as it is believed that it can stop Sabot rounds in their tracks.
Below, photo of the Panther KF51 MBT
The new MBT of the German Army: Panther KF51. Demonstration (video)
