SAHA Expo – MKE goes hybrid square with its Dağhan fire support vehicle
Among the new weapon systems shown for the first time at SAHA Expo, two were definitely not widely advertised but marked a step forward in the armoured vehicles field, both being powered by a hybrid powerpack, the Dağhan tracked fire support vehicle going beyond that
Starting from the Gürhan, this is the name given to the hybrid version of the well-known T-155 Fırtına self-propelled howitzer. The MT-881 Ka-500 diesel engine providing 1,000 hp, produced by MTU of Germany and installed on numerous other artillery SP systems such as the PzH 2000, the Polish Krab and the South-Korean K9, was replaced by two 2P2S electric motors providing a total of 1,300 hp. However, the key element is the increased torque, the diesel proving a maximum torque of 3,000 Nm, while the electric solution gives a 10,000 Nm torque nearly instantaneously. The new powerpack increases the power-to-mass ratio from 20 to over 26 hp/t, acceleration being also increased, the Gürhan reaching 30 km/ in 6 seconds versus the 7 seconds of the Firtina. While most performances remain the same, gradient, side slope, etc, what changes is the range at full load, which is increased from 225 to 300 km, one third more. This is due to the consumption, the two diesel generators providing 30 kW for reloading the 387 kWh battery pack consuming 25 l/h, electric consumption being 7.5 kW/km, while the original diesel needed 160 l/h. MKE developed a Vehicle Control Software that allows using the Gürhan in five different driving modes, optimising propulsion according to the situation; parking mode, driving mode, transportation mode, training/drill mode, and battle mode are available to the driver, who can switch from one to another while driving. Should the battery be completely flat, four hours are needed to reload them.
The Gürhan prototype was completed in July and already underwent firing trials as well as road tests, EDR On-Line understanding these being now completed, while other tests are ongoing before handing over the vehicle to the Turkish Land Forces for evaluation.
Another vehicle, this one brand new, was also visible in the outside stand of MKE, the Dağhan, which was spotted in late May this year at the EFES-2024 Exercise, fitted with a 25 mm turret. Also known as H-620, it is powered by two electric motors providing an overall 630 Hp output, the 258 kWh battery pack being reloaded by two diesel generators each one providing 20 kW; charging time is also 4 hours, should the battery pack go flat. The platform has a mass of 18 tonnes, can travel at 50 km/h. Travel modes are the same aforementioned for the Gürhan. Fuel consumption is 2.3 kW/km without payload, 2.4 kW/km at full load, diesel generators consuming 5.5 l/h with a fuel tank of 600 litres. This gives an 860 km range with no load, which is marginally reduced to 830 km at full load. The Dağhan can climb a 60% gradient, travel on a 30% side slope, cross a 1.6 metres wide trench and ford a water gap 1.5 metres deep. In the armoured personnel carrier configuration it can carry the crew of three, driver, commander and gunner, plus nine dismounts who access the vehicle via the rear ramp. MKE proposes for its Dağhan different lethality payloads ranging from small and medium calibre RCWS to mortar turret systems and tank gun turrets.
However, at SAHA Expo the MKE tracked platform was fitted with a home-made turret (a new 25 mm turret was visible in the inside stand) which is quite revolutionary in itself.
Although the platform and the turret programmes were not initially connected, the Istanbul exhibition led MKE to put them together. The turret is armed with a 120 mm breech-loaded smoothbore gun. This is quite peculiar as it can fire both 120 mm mortar ammunition as well as 120 mm tank ammunition, all in all a hybrid solution, hence the hybrid square in the title.
The gun barrel is definitely much shorter than that of an MBT, the shorter 120 mm being fitted with 44 calibre ordnances which means a 5.28 metres long barrel, however it is longer than the average barrel used in turreted mortars, which is around 3 metres. The barrel produced by MKE for its mortar/tank turret is 3.8 metres long, which means nearly 32 calibres, and weighs 850 kg. The company indicates two rounds, one tank and one mortar, compatible with this new weapon system. The tank one is the MKE Mod 300 HE-T; the whole round weighs 27.5 kg, is 984 mm long and its projectile is filled with 4.24 kg of TNT explosive. It is fitted with the MKE Mod 305 point detonation and delay fuse, and has a nominal range of 2 km when fired from a 44 calibre barrel. According to the project manager the shorter length of the new gun reduces only marginally range performances of tank ammunition, its V0 being certainly lower than the 870 m/s obtained on M60T and Leopard 2A4 tanks, while mortar rounds should gain in muzzle velocity and range due to the comparatively longer barrel. The mortar round indicated by MKE is the Mod 308, produced by the same company; it is 817 mm long, weighs 15.9 kg, is loaded with 2.85 kg of TNT, and has a muzzle velocity of 440 m/s when fired from a standard 120 mm smoothbore mortar, which gives it a 10 km range. As said, this should increase although no data were provided.
The turret is fitted with a basket and is currently manned; firing did not started yet, MKE planning to bring it on the firing range after SAHA Expo will close its doors, ranges for tank and mortar ammunition being probably made available after testing. The basket of course reduces the number of soldiers hosted in the hull, at least two loaders being needed to handle ammunition. No details were provided on the breech and on how it is made compatible with the two deeply different types of munitions.
The firings will be used to validate the concept however this is definitely not the end-state configuration. MKE aims at providing the Turkish forces with a fully automated turret, hence loading will be ensured without any human intervention, the crew selecting the round depending on the tactical situation, as it will be possible to switch smoothly from direct to indirect fire, EDR On-Line was told. According to the company representative the autoloader is not a major issue, probably two different loading systems bringing the round to the breech, but this is our guessing, an estimate of around 20 ready rounds per type, probably less for tank ones, being credible. Work is currently ongoing on the auto-loading system, which should be ready within 2025, to start qualification trials in early 2026. In this configuration the Dağhan will be able to provide all kind of fire support to an infantry formation, switching from deep indirect support fire to direct fire support both in attack and defence, which will mean a very high tactical flexibility available to low echelon commanders.
Photos by P. Valpolini