S.Korea Commences Mass Production of K2 Tank with Domestic Engine

South Korea has started mass production of K2 tanks powered by domestic engines.

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a recent statement that it had successfully deployed the secondary mass production of the K2 tank.

The K2 is the latest tank deployed by the Army and has been in service since 2014.

In the second mass production, unlike the first mass production, which was powered by a foreign power pack, the localization rate was increased compared to the first mass production by installing a mixed power pack that combines a domestic engine, cooling system and foreign transmission.

The power pack is a device composed of the engine, transmission, and cooling device, and is responsible for generating the power of the tank.

In addition, in order to prepare for technological obsolescence and reflect military requirements, performance improvement factors such as Korea Variable Message Format (KVMF) or the Korean standard message format, a standardized professional transmission/reception system, and gunner/commander sights with improved resolution and automatic tracking function were incorporated during the second mass production period, DAPA said.

Through this, it is expected that there will be effects such as cost reduction as well as improvement of field operation capability.

In this second mass production, conditions have been prepared that can be compared with the latest tanks from Germany and the United States, and based on this, export opportunities are expected to expand to Europe, including Norway and Poland.

Meanwhile, the 3rd mass production of the K2 tank is underway with the goal of completion in 2023 starting with the first electrification in the second half of 2022.