G2 Black Bear

The G2 Black Bear is a third-generation main battle tank designed by the Department of Military Technologies and produced by Daewhan Heavy Industries. The tank was designed in the 1980s to meet the Hwangji Army's requirement for a modern main battle tank with a high velocity 5.5-Inch gun. The tank was produced in small quantities before the Yellow Revolution upon which further orders were cancelled and the production line was shut down. Following the turn of the century, the production line was restarted with a slightly modernised variant of the G2 known as the G2M which would replace the G1 MBT in armoured units and re-equip the Hwangji Army.

The G2A1 is a modernised variant of the G2 with fire control systems, ballistic computers, electronics, improved armour and the modern 5.5-Inch Rifled Gun from the G3 Sabretooth. The first G2s were upgraded to G2A1 standard in 2019 with all tanks planned to be upgraded by 2024.

=Design=

Armament
The G2 Black Bear is primarily equipped with the 5.5-Inch G18 rifled gun, the G18 is a domestically produced weapon unrelated to the similar Tiperyn L/48 gun. The gun was originally produced by Seungjin Arms for the original production run but this was switched to Y&T Precision upon the restart of the production run in 2001. The tank holds 58 rounds for the main armament with most located in the turret bustle. The G18 is capable of firing APFSDS, Explosive Multipurpose, White Phosphorus and HEAT Ammunition

The main gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve, muzzle reference system, fume extractor with a 360 degree rotation speed of 8.6 seconds. The gun is accompanied with a 7-Line G6 mounted on a pintle mount on the commander’s hatch although this can be switched out to a G90 if necessary. Also equipped is a coaxial 4-Line G90 GPMG which is controlled by the gunner

Protection
The original G2 is equipped with the Sansul composite ceramic armour which with composite blocks applied to the front of the turret and the hull with the sides and protected with composite plate side skirts. This was improved with the G2A1 which introduced the Cheolgun composite ceramic armour which provides superior protection to the G2A1 and is reported to be frontally protected against Selengerian 5-Inch guns commonly equipped on their most common tanks.

The tank is also equipped with a positive pressure and air condition system to protect from chemical and biological weapons. The G2A1 also introduced a neutron shielding liner to protect the crew from neutron radiation negating the need for NBC suits in the event of nuclear attack. The tank is also equipped with a fire suppression system in the engine to protect against engine fires. The tank is also equipped with smoke grenade launchers as well as, following the G2A1 upgrade, provisions for mounting explosive reaction armour blocks, active protective systems and cage armour.

Optics and Fire Control Systems
The G2 FCS consists of the gunner’s primary sight, commander’s panoramic sights, ballistic calculator, muzzle reference system and the electric gun and turret drive system. The fire control system is equipped with a laser rangefinder and is linked with the gun stabiliser to provide accurate fire whilst on the move. The commander and the gunner have access to optics made by Uhan Consolidated which have the ability to toggle both night vision and thermal optics. The commander’s sight is also fitted with hunter-killer capability allowing the commander to have 360 degree vision and gives the tank the ability to engage multiple targets

The G2A1 is equipped with a much improved fire control system which was developed for the G3 Sabretooth. The fire control system is improved with the addition of an L-band pulsed doppler radar as well as improved sensors and an improved thermographic camera with magnifications up to 50x with the help of a digital processor.

=Operational History=

=Variants=

Variants

 * GX-2: Experimental Prototype, originally equipped with a licensed produced version of the Akitei 5-Inch gun
 * G2: First production variant. 62 units produced from 1986-88 by Daewhan Heavy Industries.
 * G2M: Second production variant. Encorporated minor improvements in digital systems and the electronics. 946 units produced from 2001-2012 in 4 batches.
 * G2A1: First major enhanced variant. Encorporated many digital and electronic technologies installed in G3 as well as fitting the new G20 rifled gun and the Cheolgun Composite Armour package. 268 upgraded since 2018.
 * G2E: Export variant of the G2
 * G2MES: An export variant built specifically for Shenewan specifications. The principal change is the integration of a 123mm smoothbore gun and associated fire control systems. 451 tanks ordered along with 27 recovery vehicles.

=Operators=  Hwangchu
 * Hwangji Army: Operated by the Hwangji Army since 1988, 1,008 ordered.