Hyundai Rotem unveils prototype of modified battle tank for Middle East exports

SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) - Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean manufacturer specializing in railway vehicles, said Friday that it unveiled a newly modified prototype of South Korea's main battle tank to the public for the first time the previous day.

The modified K2 tank, developed by Hyundai Rotem and its partners with the aim of exporting mainly to Middle Eastern countries, was unveiled at the manufacturer's plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, during an event attended by military and defense officials including those from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), which oversees the project.

Designed to endure the extreme heat of the mostly arid desert region, it is built to carry out missions reliably in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.
  Hyundai Rotem, which took on the project to modify and upgrade the tank in 2024, has sought to equip it with about 90 percent domestic parts.

It was made possible after an amendment to relevant regulations was passed by the National Assembly in July last year, allowing defense firms to produce or possess defense equipment for research, development, or promotional purposes.

"Amid rapidly changing global security environments, the achievements made through the K2 tank will help further strengthen the country's global competitiveness in defense weapons," said Hyundai Rotem CEO Lee Yong-bae.

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