South Korea plans a $2.43-billion upgrade of its K2 tanks to enhance their protection against emerging battlefield threats, including drones.
South Korea plans a 3.43-trillion-won ($2.43-billion) upgrade of its K2 main battle tanks to enhance their protection against emerging battlefield threats, including drones and anti-tank weapons.
Under the K2 Tank Performance Upgrade Project, the Hyundai Rotem-built tanks will be equipped with an active protection system, a jammer against drones and improvised explosive devices, and a remote-controlled weapon station, the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration said.
The project is scheduled to run from 2028 to 2046, the agency added.
North Korean Drone Threat
The upgrade comes amid North Korea’s expanding suicide-drone program, reportedly with likely Russian assistance. Such drones can attack tanks from above, exploiting the relatively thinner armor on their upper surfaces.
Pyongyang is also accelerating improvements to its conventional forces, including the new Chonma-20 main battle tank, which is equipped with an active protection system.
Separately, South Korea’s defense procurement committee approved a program to develop the Haeseong-II, a longer-range, domestically produced ship-to-ship guided missile. South Korea plans to invest 1.63 trillion won ($1.15 billion) in the program from next year through 2039.
The South Korean Navy’s existing Haeseong anti-ship missile has a range of approximately 150 to 180 kilometers (93 to 112 miles), while the new weapon is expected to reach the mid-300-kilometer (186-mile) range. This would allow South Korean warships to engage enemy vessels from significantly greater distances, expanding their effective strike radius.
