Korea's new tank is really sci-fi, and China's Type 100 tank was already outdated when it just entered service?
Hyundai of South Korea officially announced the start of the development plan for the K3 main battle tank and presented the model and related parameters.
This project is called the ground version of B-21 of the future, emphasizing a 130mm main gun, hydrogen fuel cell, and artificial intelligence full management system. It is expected to enter mass production around 2040.
The outside world generally believes that this project is indeed bold in concept, but it is more like a future concept car from an automobile company, and there is a long period before it can truly form combat capability.
In contrast, China has publicly disclosed the Type 100 tank for the first time in a military parade. This new equipment is called the world's first fourth-generation main battle tank, not a conceptual product.
From the perspective of R&D progress and practicality, the K3 of South Korea and the Type 100 of China are not on the same level.
The K3 is currently still at the stage of paper design and technical concept, and even a prototype vehicle has not been completed. Many core technologies have not been verified, such as the reliability of hydrogen fuel cells in military heavy armored vehicles, and whether AI can remain stable in high-intensity electronic warfare environments.
While China's Type 100 has already completed the trial production and public display, it adopts an unmanned turret, active defense system, and hybrid power, with real visible technological breakthroughs.
In other words, China has brought the future into reality, while South Korea is just imagining the future.
Against the background of increasingly urgent battlefield needs, it is obvious that the strategic significance and practical combat capability of the Type 100 are far ahead.
From the perspective of the technological development path, China's advantage also lies in continuous evolution and system building.
The Type 100 is based on a 105mm main gun, and through high muzzle velocity and new ammunition, its firepower level has already approached or even exceeded parts of the Western 120 to 125mm standard guns. At the same time, it integrates all-weather sensors, the GL-6 active defense system, and augmented reality battlefield display.
More importantly, China's industrial system can ensure subsequent improved models and mass production. Even if the K3 of South Korea completes the prototype by 2040, by then, China's tank technology may have evolved to a higher generation, and the comparative advantages will only continue to expand.
Therefore, China's Type 100 has set a new benchmark for main battle tanks worldwide.
Even if South Korea's K3 can be launched on schedule, what it can achieve is actually only the current level of China's Type 100.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842666256101388/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.