The growing prevalence of kamikaze drones on the battlefield has pushed South Korea toward a major modernisation of its K2 tank fleet. A new programme approved by the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration will equip the K2 tank with an active protection system, drone/IED jamming capabilities, and a remote-controlled weapon station. The total cost of the programme is estimated at 3.448 trillion won, or approximately $2.44 billion.
The decision was taken at the 177th meeting of the Defence Industry Projects Committee under the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA), held on 11 August. During the meeting, the basic strategy outlines for both the K2 tank modernisation and the Ship-to-Ship Guided Missile-II Project were reviewed and approved.
K2 Tank Performance to be Enhanced
The approved project for the K2 tank aims to improve the vehicle’s survivability and combat performance against advanced anti-tank threats. Under the programme, the K2 will be integrated with an active protection system, drone and improvised explosive device (IED) jamming systems, and a remote-controlled weapon station. These systems are expected to enhance the K2’s response capability against future battlefield threats, including anti-tank rockets and missiles as well as kamikaze drones. The project will run from 2028 to 2046.
Ship-to-Ship Guided Missile-II Project Also Approved
The second project discussed at the same meeting involves the domestic research and development of a new missile based on South Korea’s existing Haeseong ship-to-ship missile, featuring extended range and improved detection and tracking capabilities.
A budget of approximately 1.63 trillion won (around $1.15 billion) is planned for the Ship-to-Ship Guided Missile-II project, which will cover the period from 2028 to 2039. The project aims to establish a precision strike capability against enemy surface targets from extended ranges. The Defence Acquisition Programme Administration has also indicated that the missile being developed is intended to be exported in future as part of integrated packages alongside South Korea’s indigenous warships.
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Source: C4Defence– DAPA
