Meet The K2 Black Panther – One Of The World’s Best Tanks (Not Made In the USA)

The K2 has an impressive list of features -- if they all work as well as described. What it doesn't have is any record of proven performance in combat.

There are roughly a half-dozen new tanks around the world each of which have been announced as "the best" and all of which have various new features that are supposed to give them an advantage on the modern battlefield (whatever that means).

On the export market, some manufacturers will say "Our new tank is the best" most avoid a direct comparison with the Abrams, even though their features list generally looks better, they avoid specifically comparing their new tank to the Abrams because these new tank designs all share one common attribute -- a complete lack of combat performance.

Admittedly the Abrams is getting a bit long in the tooth and has just about reached the end of its ability to keep being updated. At well over 70 tons, the Abrams is shown quite a bit of middle-aged-spread. GDLS is making noise about a "Next Generation Abrams" but literally it is just noise right now (the GDLS "teaser" video is pathetic).

As a tanker, my opinion is that a well-trained unit of any of these new tanks would do as well or better than a comparably trained unit equipped with the current model Abrams. But buried in that opinion is the critical factor: TRAINING. It doesn't matter what fancy new features a new tank has until and unless the crews are trained to use those features and leaders are trained to employ those new features effectively. No other Armored force can come close to matching us in that area.

The US has generally excelled in tank crew and unit training -- yes, we suffered through a few years when tank training didn't make it above the line on the METL even in tank units, but we have come out of those dark days and are well on our way back to having well trained tank crews and unit leaders again.

As we watch (and laugh at) the Russian debacle in Ukraine, we see the contrast comparing the Russian critical weaknesses to our two greatest strengths: our logistics system and the professionalism and initiative of our small unit leaders.