The K2 will soon receive an “active protection system” designed to prevent attacks from low-flying aerial threats, a system already implemented on other cutting-edge tanks.

The South Korean-made K2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT) is already considered among the best tanks in the world.

Developed by the South Korean Agency for Defense Development and manufactured by South Korean defense giant Hyundai Rotem, the K2 was initially intended only to complement the K1 series MBTs in service with South Korea’s land forces. Instead, the design was so well conceived that it surpassed expectations, leading Seoul to replace the K1 altogether. Since its introduction, the K2 has been touted as one of the most advanced MBTs in service, surpassing the capabilities of the tanks in service with North Korea and even China.

Despite the high praise the tank has garnered—not to mention the flood of international orders it has received from nations including Poland, Peru, and most recently Saudi Arabia and Iraq—Seoul has identified a potential threat from semi-autonomous systems, notably unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Small drones have destroyed thousands of Russia’s most advanced tanks on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine. Similar Russian loitering munitions and kamikaze drones have also taken out some of the very best Western-made MBTs on the Ukrainian side, including the German-made Leopard 2, British Challenger 2, and US-supplied M1 Abrams. South Korea is now ensuring it is proactive in enhancing the defensive capabilities of the K2.

Here’s What the K2’s Anti-Drone Systems Will Look Like

The South Korean military’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration launched a 3.43 trillion won ($2.43 billion) project, The Korean Times first reported. The program calls for the fleet of MBTs to be outfitted with an active protection system (APS) that could counter anti-tank rockets/missiles and aerial drones.

In addition, the Blank Panthers would be outfitted with a drone and improvised explosive device (IED) jammer, along with a remote-controlled weapons station.

The APS includes a “smart shield” that includes radar tracking to spot incoming aerial threats and respond accordingly. The jammer will be employed to block enemy radio signals, disrupting drone threats before they can target the tanks, and the RCWS will allow the crew to remain buttoned up inside the chassis and still operate the weapons.

The upgrade program is expected to run from 2028 to 2046, with the first improved MBTs set to enter into service by 2033.

These efforts aren’t just about making the already impressive K2 even better, but are to ensure that it remains as capable as other modern tanks undergoing similar overhauls—particularly North Korea’s new Chonma-20 MBT, which is also reported to be outfitted with an APS.

The K2’s Current Protection Goes Above and Beyond

The current production models of the K2 rely on an undisclosed modular composite armor and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks, which are touted to withstand direct hits to the front from a 120mm tank round. The K2 is further equipped with an APS and countermeasure systems that include NBC (nuclear, biological, or chemical) protection.

Beyond taking hits, the K2 was designed to provide a powerful punch. Its main armament consists of the German-designed Rheinmetall 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun, produced under license in South Korea. The K2 is equipped with a domestically-designed automatic loader that ensures the loading of projectiles on the move, including when on uneven surfaces. The 120mm gun can fire approximately 10 to 15 rounds per minute.

The tank can fire various munitions and is compatible with all standard NATO tank rounds. Its 120mm L/55 gun can also fire the new KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition) rounds – smart target-activated fire-and-forget projectiles.

The anti-drone APS is expected to increase the capabilities of the vehicle even further, and close off one of its precious few weak points.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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