Hyundai Rotem restarts K2 Main Battle Tank after 2-year Delay

On May 27, South Korean defence manufacturer Hyundai Rotem revealed two of its K2 Black Panther main battle tanks (MBTs) to representatives of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, and Agency for Defense Development near its production facility in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. The company said that two of the 100 batch-two tanks ordered by the Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) have recently been delivered, adding that it expected production of the remaining tanks to be completed by 2021. Hyundai Rotem also stressed that an additional batch of tanks would support local industry – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – that were adversely affected by the delays in producing batch-two tanks.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense decided to combine the domestic K2 engine with a German transmission system and this enabled the K2 to pass the driving trials and cold-start trials at the beginning of this year without any abnormality. The K2 Black Panther main battle tank evolved from the XK2 programme. This next-generation MBT was developed in South Korea using indigenous technology only. Developed as modern main battle tank that will replace most of the remaining M48 Patton tanks and complement the K1 series of main battle tanks currently fielded by the South Korean military, the K2 Black Panther combines an auto-loaded 55 calibre 120 mm main gun, advanced composite armour along with hard and soft-kill active protection systems. Hyundai Rotem is expected to provide the South Korean military over 100 tanks by 2021.

The K2 Black Panther is a next generation South Korean main battle tank designed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem. Developed as modern main battle tank that will replace most of the remaining M48 Patton tanks and complement the K1 series of main battle tanks currently fielded by the South Korean military, the K2 Black Panther combines an auto-loaded 55 calibre 120 mm main gun similar to that designed for the Leclerc tank, advanced composite armour along with hard and soft-kill active protection systems. Mass production commenced in 2013 and the first K2s were deployed with the armed forces in June 2014. The K2 costs over US$8.5 million per unit, making it one of the most expensive main battle tanks in service.