S. Korea may need to delay plan to export tank due to glitch

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea may need to delay its plan to export an
indigenous army tank now under development by a year because of a glitch in a key
component, the defense minister said Thursday.

The project to develop the K-2 Black Panther hit a snag earlier this year when
the "power pack" inside the tank malfunctioned for reasons yet to be identified.
The component comprises the engine and the gear.
Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said in a parliamentary hearing that the defect is
expected to cause a delay in the government's plan to export the tank after its
development that had initially been scheduled to end next year.
"I believe the delay will be about one year due to the problem with the power
pack," Kim said when asked whether the exports will be affected.
But Kim expressed confidence that the glitch will be dealt with within one year
and that mass-production of the tank will begin in 2014.
"Our plan to produce 100 tanks in 2014 will go unaffected if we make deliberate
efforts," he said.
The Black Panther has been under development since 2005 with the aim of replacing
older K1 and American M47/48 tanks currently in use.
The model features a 120-millimeter cannon and is capable of speeds of up to 70
kilometers per hour and crossing low-depth streams, according to the Agency for
Defense Development.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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