Could South Korea Power Group Become the Sought-after Power Pack Solution for ALTAY AMT Mass Production Project?
A few days ago Defense News in an article published by Burak Ege Bekdil signature in the Journal of Turkey's German origin Europowerpack Power Group and French origin armor solutions can not come to a kind of series production stage due Kind experienced problems with the supply of Altay Main Battle Tank (AMT) Programın` in talks with South Korea The claim that it started was included. Accordingly, both the procurement (SSB) authority, military authorities and BMC Company officials, the Main Contractor of ALTAY AMT Mass Production Phase, have been holding talks with the South Korean tank engine manufacturer Doosan Infracore Corporation and transmission manufacturer S&T Dynamics companies for a while through the South Korean Hyundai Rotem. Turkish Presidency Defense Industry President Prof. Dr. İsmail DEMİR,
November 25, 2020
While the second package produced for the South Korean Land Forces is used in 106 K2 Black Panther AMTs, the first package is the EST15K Automatic Transmission with a hydraulic torque converter from S&T Dynamics. and the second package could not be used due to technical problems in the 106 K2 AMT and the need was met through the German Color Company's HSWL 495TM Automatic Transmission. The domestic design and production EST15K Automatic Transmission was aimed to be used with the DV27K Diesel Engine in the third package, which will include 54 K2 AMTs, which are expected to be ordered this year, after the completion of the development / improvement and testing process.
The ALTAY AMT Mass Production Contract worth Euro 3.5 billion was signed on November 9, 2018 and Defense Industry President Prof. Dr. İsmail DEMİR said, “The first ALTAY Tank will be delivered to KKK after 18 months. Best wishes,He said. However, although more than 2 years passed since the signing of the contract, the contract could not enter into force for a long time and To could not be initiated due to the problems experienced in the supply of critical subsystems. The project included the production and delivery of a total of 251 tanks in three different configurations, 40 of which are T1, 210 T2 and 1 unmanned tower T3 prototype. It was planned to use a locally designed and produced power group in some of the ALTAY AMTs to be manufactured under the Mass Production Phase, and a contract was signed with SSB on 13 June 2018 for the Power Group. V12 diesel engine with at least 4.600Nm torque and 1.500 hp capacity to be developed by BMC Power Company,
Meanwhile, according to a claim made in May 2019, BMC is working to develop a new 1.600 hp engine based on the 25.8 liter 1,270 hp (950 kW) Fiat / Iveco MTCA V12 Diesel Engine used in Ariete AMT with the support of Fiat. was running. According to the claim, Fiat Company would also support the studies and two separate engines would emerge using the data obtained. While the Italians were designing a supercharged engine with a capacity of 1,500 hp, the engine to be used by BMC in ALTAY AMT would be turbocharged. However, it seems that Iveco product 1, instead of the 1.500 hp version of the current Fiat-Iveco MTCA V12 Engine under the Half-Life Modernization (MLU) Project of C1 Ariete AMTs in the inventory of the Italian Land Forces. This option was heavily hit with the selection of the 600hp 12-cylinder (V12) VECTOR-12 Engine. The VECTOR-12 will be shaped on the VECTOR-8 Diesel Engine that powers the B2 Centauro II 8x8 MGS wheeled Armored Combat Vehicles in service, and the Color product HSWL 295TM Automatic Transmission (A part of the EuroPowerpack Power Group used in ALTAY AMT, which Germany has not given its export license for two years, is also the same. will be used in conjunction with). The testing process was planned to begin in 2021 with the 3 C1 Ariete AMT prototypes to be modernized under the Euro35 million contract. It will be shaped on the VECTOR-8 Diesel Engine that strengthens the B2 Centauro II 8x8 MGS wheeled Armored Combat Vehicles in service and will be shaped with the Color product HSWL 295TM Automatic Transmission (also part of the EuroPowerpack Power Group, which is used in ALTAY AMT, which Germany has not given its export license for two years) will be used. The testing process was planned to begin in 2021 with the 3 C1 Ariete AMT prototypes to be modernized under the Euro35 million contract. It will be shaped on the VECTOR-8 Diesel Engine that strengthens the B2 Centauro II 8x8 MGS wheeled Armored Combat Vehicles in service and will be shaped with the Color product HSWL 295TM Automatic Transmission (also part of the EuroPowerpack Power Group, which is used in ALTAY AMT, which Germany has not given its export license for two years) will be used. The testing process was planned to begin in 2021 with the 3 C1 Ariete AMT prototypes to be modernized under the Euro35 million contract.
On 7 May 2020, SSB President Prof. DEMİR pointed out that the work carried out with the foreign partner for the engine to be used in ALTAY AMT is progressing positively and underlined that there are also B and C plans for a possible negative situation. President DEMİR spoke as follows: “Our work with a country continues in ALTAY. We can say that the signatures were signed. We also have B or even C plan for the engine. Our work continues here. But on the other hand, our work continues, whether electric or hybrid. SSB IRON, In his statement to M5 Magazine on June 22, 2020, it is said that the process for the production of 6 Altay tanks has started with some engines supplied previously. Is there any truth to this? " to the question: “We can not say 6 per unit because there are spare engines. They have a certain number of tests. There is no such thing as pop up the spares in the tank. It would be 5, it would be 4. But such work has begun. Well, one might ask why it wasn't started yesterday You will start by establishing a production facility, we will proceed according to the calendar so that there is no such thing as I produced something, waited 3 years, 5 years., ”Gave the answer. President IRON, on Defense Turkey Magazine iii interview at his September 25 europowerpack export license for the sale to Turkey of the Power Group as to whether any progress and said the following in response to a question on will begin when the project schedule: "Maybe the public in an unfair manner dillendirilen cause There is a reaction that the production did not start. Now, a power pack was selected while the prototype was being produced, and we say to the company that you will produce on this prototype. If the source country has given up the power group on which the prototype was developed, it is not fair to blame the party that will make mass production here. They are also looking for solutions with our support. Can we continue with another country besides our own engine development project? they worked on it in a very wide way. Even there, a multi-actor situation emerged in which not only the power group, but also a certain part of the power group. In other words, a product may not only come from a place, even a tiny piece, if it comes from another country, you need to be clear about it.We have reached a certain stage regarding the engine from another country, and our studies on the domestic engine continue. In the first stage, the production of the tank can start with a limited number of engines created at the prototype stage, but if you ask why it did not start, it does not make sense to produce 3-4 tanks and wait five years or two years. If we make a chain back to back and do this, we'll start… ”DEMİR In response to a question regarding the integration and qualification process of the power group option other than the German EuroPowerpack to ALTAY AMT:“ If there is a blockage at some point, you cannot sit and wait. Regarding the process, you are meeting with someone, you pass a stage, but you can get stuck in a component. We are trying to take the process in the best possible way with all our strength. And it's like we've come to the end. Sometimes a very small issue can stretch beyond your expectations. Practically, it has actually come to an end, but of course there is a qualification process. You also need to qualify the power pack for your own product. If there is a blockage related to this product without the initiative of the contractor, this is a force majeure. Then what will you do? It is not a product that you can take from the ready shelf and put it on the platform. It was not an A product. It is not an issue that you would say I use product B. First of all, it is a process to understand the power group to be supplied with the country with that company, and then the installation of that system on our own product and the qualification of the product is another step that talking with the country, maturing the terms of the agreement, there are many issues ... ”he said.
South Korean Experience in AMT Power Group: K2 AMT Power Group
South having a much more advanced automotive industry from Turkey, Korea, 2005-2014 between indigenous K2 Black Panther Power Group for the development work carried out by AMT. In this context, Doosan Infracore, which developed the first power group for the development of a 12-cylinder (V12) diesel engine in the 1980s, and S&T Dynamics Company for the development of the automatic transmission system.
South Korea started the XK2 AMT Development Program in 1995 and the first XK2 prototype was exhibited in 2007 and was made ready for production under the name K2 in 2008 after 13 years. After extensive testing, the US $ 820 Million contract, covering the first batch of 100 K2 Black Panther AMTs, was signed in December 2014 (production started in November) and deliveries were completed in November 2016. The first batch of 100 K2 AMT was equipped with the power pack consisting of the German MTU diesel engine and the Renk HSWL 295TM Transmission since the domestic power pack was not ready at that time. After lengthy (technical problems experienced in the domestic design power pack development process led to a delay of more than two years in the K2 Project schedule) and costly work, South Korea, Doosan Infracore product 1.
According to the information shared in the S&T Dynamics Military Products Catalog, EST15K completed the Operational Tests in coordination with the South Korean Land Forces on May 2, 2013, and in the Development Tests conducted in coordination with the South Korean Defense Development Agency, you want 82 excluding the Endurance Test of 9,600km. It has met all. According to the firm's claim, the combat weight K2 AMT, equipped with the EST15K Transmission, traveled 8,198 km during the Endurance Test and completed 85.4% of the planned Endurance Test of 9,600 km. But,
After the completion of the development / improvement and qualification testing process of the domestic design and production EST15K Transmission, it was aimed to be used with the DV27K Diesel Engine in the third package, which will include 54 K2 AMTs expected to be ordered this year. According to the reports published in the South Korean local press in July and August 2020, the DAPA has revised the requirements for the Endurance Tests and announced new standards. According to some Korean authors, this revision paved the way for the use of the domestic power group in the K2 Black Panther AMT. In a statement on the subject, DAPA AMT and Head of Armored Vehicles Department Kim Ki-TAEK stated that the revision will be "a starting point for the full localization of the power group of the K2 Tank". In a statement made on 16 July 2020, DAPA said, “This year, "We will conduct a new qualification test with the candidate domestic power group in accordance with the revised requirements and decide before the end of this year whether the domestic transmission system will be used in third-party K2 AMT production," he said. According to the news signed by Kim Byung-WOOK, an unnamed DAPA official made the following assessment on the subject; “In order to be able to manufacture third-party K2 tanks with 100% Korean parts, we will conduct additional tests on the transmission system of S&T Dynamics. Although we have changed the way we conduct the test, the threshold is still the same. In other words, the transmission system has to work successfully for 320 hours or 9,600 kilometers without any defects. “There were debates and disagreements between relevant institutions and companies regarding national defense standards regarding the EST15K Transmission, and the regulations were requested to be revised after the parliamentary audit in 2018. The Government of South Korea shared the relevant regulations with the public on Thursday, July 16 so that the test could be conducted "fairly and reasonably". According to a report signed by Kim Byung-WOOK, a defect under DAPA's changing rules refers to "a situation in which a fundamental function of the transmission (shifting, steering, braking) has been lost or the test can no longer continue due to a 'serious' drop in performance ''. WOOK commented on this situation as follows: "Simply put, test results depend entirely on how the military interprets the term 'serious'." The relevant regulations were shared with the public on Thursday, July 16 so that the test could be carried out in a "fair and reasonable way". According to a report signed by Kim Byung-WOOK, a defect under DAPA's changing rules refers to "a situation in which a fundamental function of the transmission (shifting, steering, braking) has been lost or the test can no longer continue due to a 'serious' drop in performance. WOOK commented on this situation as follows: "Simply put, test results depend entirely on how the military interprets the term 'serious'." The relevant regulations were shared with the public on Thursday, July 16 so that the test could be conducted in a "fair and reasonable way". According to a report signed by Kim Byung-WOOK, a defect under DAPA's changing rules refers to "a situation in which a fundamental function of the transmission (shifting, steering, braking) has been lost or the test can no longer continue due to a 'serious' drop in performance ''. WOOK commented on this situation as follows: "Simply put, test results depend entirely on how the military interprets the term 'serious'." braking) or a situation where the test can no longer be continued due to a 'serious' drop in performance ”. WOOK commented on this situation as follows: "Simply put, test results depend entirely on how the military interprets the term 'serious'." braking) or a situation where the test can no longer be continued due to a 'serious' drop in performance ”. WOOK commented on this situation as follows: "Simply put, test results depend entirely on how the military interprets the term 'serious'."
As of November 20, 2020, there was no news in open sources that qualification testing was carried out with the K2 Black Panther AMT equipped with the Korean Power Group and that the EST15K Transmission was approved for Mass Production.
Major Differences Between Korea Power Pack and EuroPowerpack
Doosan Infracore product is a V12 diesel engine with a 4-stroke, 12-cylinder, water-cooled and double turbocharged capacity of 1.500 hp and has a volume of 27.2 liters. The rated speed of the engine is 2,000rpm (2,000 revolutions per minute), while it produces 1,479 hp, while the revolution speed is 2,700rpm. Equipped with a fully electronically controlled Common Rail Injection system capable of producing 4.560Nm of torque at 2,000rpm, the dry weight of the DV27K , measuring 1.828mm x 1.060mm x 1.126mm , is given as 2.578kg . The dry weight of the EST15K Transmission with 140 liter oil capacity and hydraulic torque converter with 6 forward and 3 reverse gears is given as 2.500kg in the product brochure.. EST15K, which is stated in the product brochure, can be used in tanks up to 65 tons, can be matched with both Doosan DV27K and MTU MT883 Ka-501 engines. It has been stated that thanks to the domestic power group, the K2 AMT can reach a speed of 68 km per hour on asphalt and 50 km in the field and can travel 450 km with internal fuel. However, the K2 AMT with a combat weight of 56 tons reached a speed of 32km from zero with its MTU MT883 Ka-501 V12 diesel engine and Renk HSWL 295TM automatic transmission in 7 seconds, while it was claimed to be approximately 8 seconds when equipped with the Korean Power Group. MTU MT883 KA-501 C V12 diesel and 5 having three forward or reverse gear, 2.450kg dry weight of the color HSWL 295TM automatic transmissionThe 63.5 ton ALTAY AMT, which is powered by the EuroPowerpack consisting of n, can reach a speed of 32 km from zero to 32 km in 6s and can travel backwards at a speed of 30km (again reaching in 6s). It is stated that ALTAY AMT, with a combat weight of 63.5 tons, can reach a speed of 65.5km / h with the EuroPowerpack Power Group.
The EuroPowerpack Power Group in ALTAY AMT has a 'U Type Configuration' where the engine is placed parallel to the transmission. In the power group, a 12-cylinder (V-12 type) MT883 Ka-501CR diesel engine, which is the newest member of the 880 series diesel engine family produced by the German MTU company, and provides better fuel saving values, has been preferred. The torque value of the MT883 Ka-501CR Engine, which measures 1.488mm x 972mm x 742mm, is given as 3.687ft-lb (4.999Nm) at 2.000rpm. MT883 Ka-501CR Engine with a volume of 27.4 liters and a dry weight of 1.800kg (3.968lb)It can produce 1,200kW (1,630hp) of power in standard configuration. The motor with an oil capacity of 80kg (21.13 gallons) has a nominal speed of 3,000rpm (3,000 rounds per minute) and can produce 1,496 hp at 2,700rpm. Altay AMT Project engine power in the specification for which is defined as 1.500bg 1.630bg capacity MT883 Ka-501 C diesel engine before being sent to Turkey 'downgrade' (software-based study) have been and were fitted to produce 1.500bg the tanks. Another striking difference / superiority of the ALTAY AMT Power Group from the EuroPowerpack systems used in other tank models is that it has the strongest Cooling System in its class. When the horsepower produced by the power group in all tanks in the world exceeds the defined operating temperature values, It gradually decreases in a controlled manner so that the engine does not overheat and the tank continues its duty. The cooling system in the power group of ALTAY AMT is designed to operate at the highest temperatures in the world without causing any horsepower loss. Otokar engineers also took part in the development of this cooling system.
During the ALTAY AMT Development Phase, a total of 5 sets of EuroPowerpack Power Packs were supplied under the € 12 Million contract signed in October 2010. Four of them were PV1, PV2, MTR and FTR Prototype and Pre-Prototypes, and the 5th power group was used on the tank chassis (No.5 prototype) produced by Otokar on its own initiative to use in mobility tests. An Otokar official I spoke to at that time stated that the 5th power group was financed by Otokar's equity. ALTAY-AHT (Asymmetric Warfare Tank) exhibited by Otokar at IDEF '17 Fair was formed on the number 5 ALTAY AMT body / chassis. Therefore, I was evaluating that at the end of ALTAY AMT Phase-I, PV1, PV2, MTR and FTR Pre-Prototypes and Prototypes, using 4 power groups, were delivered to SSB by Otokar. But, It is claimed that Otokar also delivered its 5th EuroPowerpack Power Group to SSB. Therefore, until the Korea Power Group delivery begins, it will be possible to deliver only 5 ALTAY T1 AMTs at the first stage with the existing power group sets.
Korea Power Group and ALTAY T1 / T2 Main Battle Tanks
BMC, which received 4 pre-prototype and prototype tanks within the scope of ALTAY AMT Project Phase-II, Mass Production Project, will upgrade these prototypes to T1 configuration in accordance with the Contract. In this context, engineering studies were initiated under the responsibility of BMC engineers, and the work was carried out first in the Ankara Engineering Office and then in the Engineering Office, which was moved to Adapazarı and established in Arifiye. The first delivery of the BMC Altay T1 AMT According to the current timetable, T that will carry +24 months.
Many systems on the T1 Demonstrator (formed on the PV2 prototype) prepared by BMC personnel in a 2-month study at the 1st Main Maintenance Factory Directorate were exhibited as a 'dummy' product at the BMC booth at IDEF '19 since they were not ready yet. The main difference between the PV2 prototype and the T1 is due to the Aselsan product AKKOR Active Protection System (AKS) and the Roketsan product developed armor package. On the T1 Demonstrator, there is a back cage armor + thicker ERA package on the hull sides + a new armor package on the turret. There are 4 AKKOR AKS radars around the tower, and there are many electronic units for AKKOR AKS in the tank, so the rear of the tower is a little widened. ALTAY AMT's weight in the current configuration is 63.5 tons, of which 25 tons is the tower weight. In response to our question as to whether the increase in the weight of the tank due to the additional armor package in the T1 version would have a negative impact on the performance of the power group, BMC officials pointed out that there was no need for an extra change, as the weights in the T1 configuration were within their prescribed weight limits. After the 40-unit T1 model, the 210-unit T2 model will also be fitted with AKKOR AKS, but a completely different armor package (I think the French armor system mentioned in Defense News news) will be used in the tank. BMC officials pointed out that the main armor of the tank will also be different and there will be a serious increase in weight. With the approval of the SSB, we will go step by step, ”they had spoken.
Result
It is considered that the Korea Power Group, which is planned to be supplied, is considered for 40 ALTAY T1 AMTs, so that an additional time (24 months) can be gained for the development, testing and production processes of the original power group BATU until T2 production begins.
However, as pointed out above, the Korean Power Group has slightly larger values than the current EuroPowerpack Power Group in terms of both volume and weight, and the torque power it provides is slightly weaker. A certain amount of engineering work will be required to integrate the Korea Power Group into existing ALTAY AMT prototypes or pre-prototypes. In addition, after the integration, the prototype tank and / or tanks equipped with the Korea Power Group will need to be carried out in different terrain and weather conditions for qualification purposes. I think that this process can take an average of 3-6 months. While South Korea was performing 9.600km Endurance Test with K2 AMT, during the System Qualification and Acceptance Tests within the scope of ALTAY AMT Project Phase-I, the PV1 prototype was carried out in different terrain and season / weather conditions. 000km Endurance Tests had been done. During the tests by the MTR and FTR pre-prototypes and the PV1 and PV2 prototypes, a total distance of approximately 26,000 km was covered.
After the Korean Power Group has shown a successful performance in the tests and is certified for ALTAY T1 AMT, it will be possible to submit it to the Mass Production line until mid 2021. However, in order not to experience new delays in the Mass Production process planned as To + 24 months and to achieve the monthly production speed of 6 units committed under the Contract, the deliveries of other important subsystems other than the power group must also comply with the ALTAY T1 AMT Mass Production schedule.
