'Showcasing Korean Weapon Superiority' Korea-UAE Joint Military Exercise Successfully Concluded

First Overseas Deployment of K21 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and K600 Obstacle Breaching Vehicle
Showcasing the Superiority of Domestic Weapon Systems in Joint UAE Training
Expanding Joint Operational Capabilities with Allied Nations

The Army mechanized unit's first deployment in a local joint exercise in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been successfully completed. Through this training, our military showcased the excellence of our weapon systems such as the K2 tank and K9A1 self-propelled howitzer, while expanding joint operational capabilities with allied countries.

The Army announced on the 21st that the ‘2025 UAE Joint Training Task Force (TF)’ is returning home after completing joint training with the UAE military on site. The training took place from the 10th to the 20th at the Al Hamra training ground in the UAE, with the 8th Mechanized Division soldiers as the main force, deploying 14 key mechanized unit assets including K2 tanks and K9A1 self-propelled howitzers.

This is the first time the mechanized unit has conducted joint training locally in the UAE. Notably, the Army deployed the K21 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), the main infantry combat vehicle of our military, and the latest Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV), the K600 obstacle breaching vehicle, for the first time in overseas joint training, demonstrating the superiority of domestically produced weapon systems.

The first week of the joint training included terrain reconnaissance, tactical discussions, defensive operation field training exercises (FTX), firing drills, and urban area operations (Marine Corps). The second week focused on offensive operation field training exercises (FTX). During the training, the K21 IFV and K600 obstacle breaching vehicle, participating in overseas joint training for the first time, performed their missions flawlessly. The K21 IFV demonstrated excellent firepower and protection by utilizing its 40mm cannon and maneuvering alongside tanks, showing outstanding cooperative combat capabilities, while the K600 obstacle breaching vehicle supported friendly forces’ advance by creating passages through complex obstacle zones, turning over desert sand.

After the FTX, demonstrations of domestic weapon system performance and equipment exhibitions were held. The event was attended by over 100 UAE government and military officials, including Oh Hyuk-jae, Director of Planning and Management at the Army Headquarters (Major General), and Marwan Mohammed Ahmed Al Falasi, Director of Education and Training of the UAE military (Brigadier General). The local joint training unit showcased not only firepower and maneuver demonstrations but also rapid ammunition resupply for the K9A1 self-propelled howitzer using the K10 ammunition resupply vehicle and on-site maintenance of the K2 tank using the K1 recovery vehicle, highlighting the differentiated sustainment capabilities of domestically produced weapon systems.

Afterwards, attendees had the opportunity to directly board the K2 tank and K9A1 self-propelled howitzer to experience the excellence of domestic weapon systems firsthand. Saif R. Al Musafari, commander of the UAE 5th Brigade and a UAE military brigadier general, expressed gratitude to the soldiers of both countries for their dedicated performance during the joint training, stating, "I was particularly impressed by the capabilities of the Korean military’s weapon systems, which performed flawlessly even in unfamiliar environments such as the desert."

Meanwhile, the Army plans to continue efforts to enhance joint operational capabilities with allied countries and promote the excellence of domestic weapon systems by discussing the regularization of joint training with the UAE and Qatar.