[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Thumbs Up for the Production Site of the K-Defense Leading Heukpyo Tank

Report from Hyundai Rotem Changwon Plant
On-site Hyundai Motor Company Technology Expertise Concentrated
K2 Tank Successfully Passes Various Test Sites

Recently, there was no sign of a halted workspace at the Hyundai Rotem factory in Changwon, Gyeongnam, the production site of the 'K2 Tank,' a key player leading 'K-Defense.' Each facility building was brightly lit with welding, operation, and assembly in full swing for K2 tank production. With orders piling up for the third batch production of 54 K2 tanks, as well as the fourth batch and 180 tanks for the first delivery to Poland, factory employees appeared highly encouraged.

The K-series tanks, named after the initial letter of 'Korea,' were developed with our own technology over 40 years ago. After the establishment of the military, we operated American M-series tanks, but in the 1970s, Hyundai Rotem began modifying the M48 series tanks, marking the start of the K-series tank development. Production of the K1 tank (also known as the 88 tank) began in the mid-1980s, and in the 1990s, the development of the K1A1 tank, an upgraded main battle tank for the army, was successful. In 2008, the K2 Black Panther tank was developed using entirely domestic technology, and currently, following Turkey, exports have expanded to Poland, becoming a driving force behind 'K-Defense.'

The K2 Armored Vehicle Undergoes 9 Assembly Processes... Hyundai Rotem Has Produced Over 1,500 Units

At Hyundai Rotem's third defense plant, production of the wheeled armored vehicle K808, currently in its third batch, was in full swing. Armored vehicles are combat vehicles with steel plates added to the body and are divided into wheeled types using regular car wheels and tracked types using continuous tracks. At this plant, work was underway to attach 14.5mm steel plates produced by partner companies onto the surface of the wheeled armored vehicle K808, nicknamed 'Baekho' (White Tiger), to enhance troop transport safety. Based on enhanced mobility, it is advantageous for operation in rough front-line environments. The K808 is also a core asset of the army's AI-based future combat system, 'Army TIGER 4.0.'

The production line was divided by work processes. For armored vehicles, there are nine assembly processes, and the chassis was moved using an automated conveyor belt similar to automobile production plants. A turnover device allowed the heavy chassis to be flipped 180 degrees, facilitating easier underbody work. A Hyundai Rotem official explained, “This is the result of applying the technology accumulated over the past 40 years and the automobile production know-how of Hyundai Motor Group.” The total number of K1, K1E1, K1A1, and K1A2 tanks delivered to the army by Hyundai Rotem so far amounts to over 1,500 units. The official added that this know-how is envied even by overseas defense companies.

At the eighth process of the production line, a 420-horsepower Hyundai Motor engine and a German transmission were assembled. Armored vehicles equipped with power units displayed flags numbered ‘24,’ ‘25,’ and ‘26’ to indicate production counts. After tests such as rapid acceleration and sudden braking, the power units enable the armored vehicles to travel at speeds of 100 km/h on paved roads, 50 km/h on unpaved roads, and 25 km/h in rough terrain. Additionally, the armored vehicles are equipped with water jets that allow amphibious propulsion, enabling easy movement on water.

K2 Tank Driving Performance Test... Higher Firing Accuracy Even Under Shock

In the adjacent building, overhaul work on the K1 tank was underway. Overhaul involves disassembling old tanks for repairs and parts replacement to restore performance to near-new levels. Hyundai Rotem won a 506.7 billion KRW contract in 2021 for the overhaul of K1 and K1A1 tanks, as well as K-1 recovery and bridge-laying tanks. The K1 tanks entrusted by army units were completely stripped inside, leaving only the bare frame. Internal reinforcements and repainting were done, making them indistinguishable from newly produced armored vehicles. Manager Kim Mi-jung said, “All friend-or-foe identification devices have been replaced, ensuring seamless information exchange with K2 tanks and others.”

At the driving performance test site, a 55-ton K2 tank roared as it ran at a maximum speed of 70 km/h. Measuring 10.8 meters in length and 3.6 meters in width, the K2 tank sped over a road with consecutive 20 cm high speed bumps. Manager Lee Ji-sang explained, “Equipped with an organic hydraulic suspension system, it has superior shock absorption compared to the German Leopard 2A7 tank.” Despite such shocks, the turret maintains a horizontal position, resulting in improved firing accuracy. The K2 tank is equipped with an ISU (Integrated Suspension Unit) shock absorption system, which digitally calculates and corrects the barrel’s position to keep it stable during firing. Thanks to this system, the K2 tank can accurately hit enemy tanks even while on the move. Furthermore, the barrel’s minimal shaking after the first shot allows immediate follow-up firing. Its self-defense capabilities are also excellent, detecting incoming missiles from the air in advance and firing countermeasures to neutralize the weapons.

On the same day at the driving performance test site, an obstacle-clearing tank also caught attention. This tank specializes in mine clearance and overcoming obstacle zones, equipped at the front with a 5.8-meter-wide mine-clearing plow that moves up and down like a farming plow, digging up soil and mines and pushing them aside. This mine-clearing equipment was promised as support by President Yoon Suk-yeol to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Hiroshima Summit.