In the mid-1980s North Korea had to confront superior tanks from South Korea. These tanks were not as powerful as Western tanks. South Korea had at the time more advanced versions the M-1 and K-1. They also increased the air power capabilities. Additionally, the United States was equipped with the M-1 Abrams as well as the M-24. These tanks were capable of firing missiles from the gun tube. However, North Korea was not able to buy these tanks from the United States. North Korea was required to build a third generation tank in order for it to be comparable in performance to Western tanks.
It took ten long years to develop a third generation tank. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, North Korea was able to hire experts from Eastern Europe to work on their tank. The goal was to create a tank that could perform in the same class of the T-90S. The result was the Xianjun 915 tank.
The tank was developed by the Ryu Kyong-su Tank Factory, which is located in Shinhung, South Hamgyong Province. It has a mass of 44 tons, and a height of 2.416m. It is powered by a diesel engine with 1200 horsepower. It can carry up to four crew members. It is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore pistol and two SA-18 antiaircraft rockets. The tank can travel approximately 70 kilometers an hour. The tank is believed have a thermal scanner and an automatic loader. The T-90S was believed to have given it a variety of armor upgrades, though it isn't clear how many.
The tank's front features a "big eyes". This is a symbol for Soviet tanks. It is believed to be a precursor to the "Kimmata", a tank that North Korea is developing. 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".
A prototype of the tank was introduced in April 2017. It was also said to have passed performance tests in Pyongyang. Also, the tank was thought to be equipped with a 30-mm anti-tank missile and a Firebird grenadelauncher. It was reported as a powerful combat vehicle. Its performance has not been disclosed by North Korea. At a ceremony in October 2010, the prototype of the tank will be revealed.
The North Korea's main battle tanks have large numbers. However, they are 30 years behind current times. They can be penetrated with large-caliber weapons and are not comparable to Western tanks. However, the country has stated their goal to develop the best tank in the world. They have increased their reverse engineering capabilities, and started to increase their weapon production. They've also been able buy tanks from other countries. In the 1990s, North Korea's main battle force consisted of around two to three thousand tanks. In 2010, 55 new tanks had been produced.