New D2 tank fighter pierces 500 mm thick steel from 2000 meters away
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense has unveiled a new 105mm “tank fighter” combat vehicle with an 8×8 wheel configuration. The D2 prototype has been tested, demonstrating the vehicle’s features, including Hunter-Killer capabilities, similar to those of M1A2T tanks, designed to increase attack efficiency and ensure continuous target engagement.
The 105-mm tank fighter is still under development. The Bureau of Armaments made two prototypes, D1 and D2. The current prototype is 3.3 meters high, but the army requires it to be less than 3 meters, which requires adjustments to the internal layout of the tower.
The military emphasized that domestic capabilities now allow them to independently produce components from barrel to tower. The caliber of the barrel corresponds to the caliber of the existing M60A3 and CM11 tanks, which ensures the interchangeability of ammunition.
The “Tank Fighter” is capable of penetrating a 500 mm thick steel plate at a distance of 2,000 meters using 105 mm armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles with a feathered stabilizer (APFSDS). The D2 prototype barrel was tested for 400 rounds with an expected service life of 800 to 1000 rounds.
The D2 prototype includes design changes aimed at increasing protection against small-caliber ammunition, 12.7 mm bullets and RPGs, as well as improved situational awareness with LED headlights and external EO/IR cameras for all-round visibility.
The armored vehicle’s characteristics include the ability to carry four people, a speed of more than 100 km/h, a turret system with biaxial servo stabilization and six smoke grenade launchers on each side, and the ability to fire on the move. The surveillance system supports all weather operations, recognizing vehicles at a distance of 2000 meters and personnel at a distance of 1200 meters.
