In the mid-1980s North Korea faced superior tanks from South Korea. These tanks weren't comparable to Western tanks. South Korea at that time had advanced versions of both the M-1 (and K-1) tanks. They also increased air power. Additionally, the United States was equipped with the M-1 Abrams as well as the M-24. These tanks had the capability to fire missiles from the gun tube. But, North Korea could not buy these tanks from America. North Korea needed to create a third-generation tank in order to produce a tank that was comparable to Western tanks.
The third generation tank development was difficult and took 10 years. North Korea was able hire experts from Eastern Europe after the collapse and completion of the Soviet Union. Their goal was to design a tank that would perform in the same classes as the T-90S. The result was a Xianjun 915 tank.
The Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory created the tank. They are located in Shinhung (South Hamgyong Province). The tank weighs in at 44 tons and is 2.416m high. It has a diesel engine that has a power of 1200 horsepower. It can hold four crew members. It also comes equipped with a smoothbore gun of 125mm length and two SA-18 Anti-Aircraft Missiles. It will travel at 70 km/h. According to some reports, the tank may have an autoloader and a thermal camera. It was believed to have received a number of armor upgrades from the T-90S, but it is unclear how many were implemented.
The tank's front is marked by a "big-eyed" eye. This symbol is used frequently by Soviet tanks. It is thought that this is a precursor for the "Kimmata" tank, which North Korea is currently building. Large-caliber machine guns can penetrate the tank's main tank. On the right side, the tank features reactive armor and a twin mount with surface-to-air rockets. The tank is also believed to have an angular turret, which is believed to be a copy of the Russian "Amata".
In April 2017, a prototype of the tank had been introduced. It was also said to have passed performance tests in Pyongyang. A 30mm grenade rocket launcher and an anti-tank missile "Firebird" were also thought to have been fitted to the tank. The tank was believed to be a combat vehicle. However, North Korea is yet to provide details about the vehicle's performance. At a ceremony in October 2010, the prototype of the tank will be revealed.
The North Korean main battle tank fleet is large. However, they are thirty years behind the times. They are not as strong as Western tanks and can be easily pierced with large-caliber weaponry. The country has set a goal to build the best tank in the entire world. They have increased their reverse engineering capabilities, and started to increase their weapon production. They are also able to purchase tanks from other countries. During the 1990s, North Korea had a main battle force of two or three thousand tanks. 55 new tanks were built in 2010 alone.