PANTHER KF51 MBT

In June 2022, the German firm Rheinmetall unveiled its proposal for what could be the next generation of main battle tanks. It is the Panther KF51 MBT, a 59-ton vehicle armed with a 130mm smoothbore gun equipped with an automatic loader. In addition, special emphasis has been placed on equipping the vehicle with a new technology known as “data fusion,” which enables better situational awareness to improve reactions to threats. As of October 2026, it has not yet entered service with any army, though negotiations with several countries are ongoing. In July 2024, Rheinmetall and the Italian firm Leonardo formed a joint venture named “Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles (LRMV)” to jointly manufacture 380 vehicles based on the Panther KF51 platform for the Italian Army under the Army Armoured Combat System (A2CS) program.

PANTHER KF51 MBT gallery and more info

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Additional information

Ficha Completa
Country of origin

Germany

Builder

Panther KF51 demonstrator: Rheinmetall – NMBT prototype: LRMV (Leonardo & Rheinmetall)

Type

Main Battle Tank

Date

Panther KF51 demonstrator: from 2016 – NMBT prototype: from 2026

Crew

Panther KF51 demonstrator: 3+1 – NMBT prototype: 4

Combat weight

Panther KF51 demonstrator: 59,000 kg – NMBT prototype: from 61,000 to 67,000 kg

Dimensions (length x width x height)

Panther KF51 demonstrator: 10.00 x 3.70 x 2.50 (turret roof) meters

Armour, (maximum)

Welded steel + passive composite modules + sensor-fused reactive armor

Power plant

NMBT prototype: 1 x MTU or Iveco 1,800 hp diesel engine
Panther KF51 demonstrator: 1 x MTU diesel engine, 1,500 hp

Speed

70 km/h on road

Range

Panther KF51 demonstrator: +500 km – NMBT prototype: 450 km

Armament

NMBT prototype: 1 x Rheinmetall 120mm L55A1 smoothbore gun or 1 x Rheinmetall Rh-130 L/52 130mm (FGS) smoothbore gun + 1 x 12.7mm coaxial MG + 1 x 30mm RCWS + UAS
Panther KF51 demonstrator: 1 x Rheinmetall Rh-130 L/52 130mm (FGS) smoothbore gun + 1 x 12.7mm coaxial MG + 1 x 7.62mm Natter RCWS + UAS

Ammunition

NMBT prototype: 20 x 120mm rounds + 250 x 12.7mm rounds + 150 x 30mm rounds + 4 UAS
Panther KF51 demonstrator: 20 x 130mm rounds + 250 x 12.7mm rounds + 2,500 x 7.62mm rounds + 4 UAS or 13 micro UAS