Hyundai Rotem presented the advanced capabilities of its K2 main battle tank during the MSPO 2025 defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland. Speaking to Defensehere.com, Dr. Euiwhan Kim, Senior Advisor at Hyundai Rotem’s Defense Solution Business Division, emphasized the company’s long standing expertise in armored vehicle production and its role in key international partnerships.
Founded in 1976, Hyundai Rotem remains the only company in the Republic of Korea capable of producing main battle tanks. “The first tank we produced for the Korean Army was the modernized M48,” Dr. Kim explained. “Today we are manufacturing the upgraded K1 series and the K2 family, which are also exported to foreign customers.”
Advanced Technology and Mobility
According to Dr. Kim, the latest K2 variants integrate new technologies such as a hydrodynamic suspension system, enabling attitude control and a smooth ride over rough terrain. “The K2 has the longest barrel in the world, increasing the muzzle velocity and penetration power of the rounds,” he noted. “Its fire control system is fully digitalized, featuring automatic target acquisition, target tracking, and a battlefield management system that allows tank-to-tank data sharing at platoon and brigade levels.”
These enhancements, he said, give the K2 superior situational awareness and lethality on modern battlefields, combining high firepower with agility and adaptability.
Collaboration with Türkiye’s Altay Program
Dr. Kim highlighted Hyundai Rotem’s contribution to Türkiye’s Altay main battle tank project, which has now entered mass production. “We worked with Türkiye during the development of the Altay, supporting them in designing their own tank and supplying some of the critical components,” he said. “The cooperation continues today on several levels.”
Türkiye is set to deliver its first domestically produced Altay tanks to the Turkish Armed Forces on October 28, coinciding with the official opening of the new production facility in Ankara, marking a milestone in the country’s armored vehicle industry.
Production and Industrial Partnership with Poland
The K2’s success in Europe continues through Hyundai Rotem’s partnership with Poland. “We have already delivered hundreds of K2 tanks to the Polish Army,” Dr. Kim confirmed. “A new contract for additional quantities was recently signed, and future production will also take place in Poland together with Hyundai Rotem companies.”
He added that the company not only exports complete tanks but also transfers technologies, allowing partner nations to participate in production and system integration. “We cooperate and move forward together,” he concluded.
You can watch the full interview below for more insights:
Cameraman: Mehmet Burak Tekeş