Overview

The KSTAM stands for Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition. The KSTAM-120 is launched from the 120 mm L55 main guns mounted on the K2 Black Panther main battle tanks that are to be fielded by the South Korean military, and will be used for attacking targets, stationary or moving, that are hidden behind obstacles. It is similar to the American XM943 STAFF (Smart Target Activated Fire and Forget). K2 Black Panther (formerly known as KNMBT, or Korean New Main Battle Tank and XK2, or eXperimental K2) (Hangul: 차기전차 K2 흑표) is the Republic of Koreas recently revealed prototype for a next-generation main battle tank. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ...

Basically a guided anti-tank mortar munition, the KSTAM-120 flies with the energy applied to it from the firing of the munition from the main gun. It does not possess any kind of propellants, and should not be confused as a missile or a rocket. The trajectory of the munition is curved, giving it a mortar- or artillery-like capability to strike targets taking cover behind obstacles. Its main use is to destroy entrenched and/or covered enemy vehicles that are unreachable with regular anti-tank shells due to the restrictions in terrain and/or hazards imposed upon the friendly vehicle.

Launch Vehicle

The KSTAM is specifically designed for the 120 mm L55 guns mounted on the K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, and there are no other launch vehicles announced that are capable of firing such projectiles.

Onboard Equipments

The munition is equipped its own guidance and obstacle-avoidance systems for navigation, small millimeter band RADAR and infrared sensors for target identification, and an Explosively Formed Penetrator for attacking targets. Extremely high frequency is the highest radio frequency band. ... This long range Radar antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll[1]. Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine and map the location, direction, and/or speed... Image of two girls in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. ... An explosively formed penetrator (EFP), self forging warhead or self forging fragment is a special type of shaped charge that is designed to penetrate effectively at long standoff (distance from the charge). ...

Usage

The launch vehicle does not need to be revealed in order to use the munition, as the munition is equipped with its own navigation and targeting systems and gives it fire-and-forget capability. The vehicle can be completely hidden behind obstacles and still be able to launch the munitions as long as there is enough clearing for the barrel to elevate.

After being fired, the munition will begin its travel towards over the designated area, aided by four fins to stabilize its flight, where it would deploy its parachutes to slow its descent, giving its target-acquisition RADAR and infrared sensors enough time to identify and acquire a target, then fire its EFP at the top of it. An explosively formed penetrator (EFP), self forging warhead or self forging fragment is a special type of shaped charge that is designed to penetrate effectively at long standoff (distance from the charge). ...

The munition can be manually controlled in a limited fashion by the launch vehicle using a live data link feed.

The minimum range of the munition is 2km, while the maximum range is 8km.