South Korea approves local transmission for K2 MBT

DAPA has announced that the fourth batch of K2 MBTs will be integrated with a local automatic transmission system. (Janes/Kelvin Wong)

South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has cleared the integration of a local transmission for the Republic of Korea Army's (RoKA's) Hyundai Rotem K2 main battle tank (MBT).

In an announcement on 28 October, DAPA also approved projects to build and deploy the proposed Low-Altitude Missile Defence (LAMD) system and to upgrade the RoKA's Lockheed Martin PAC-3 Patriot air-defence system.

DAPA said the fourth batch of K2 MBTs will feature a locally produced transmission coupled with a domestic engine, which was previously integrated into the MBT. “With the application of the domestic transmission, the powerpack of the K2 tank will be completely domestically produced,” said DAPA.

DAPA did not elaborate. However, Janes has previously reported that South Korean firm SNT Dynamics had developed a 1,500 hp transmission system – named the EST15K – for the K2. The transmission had been coupled with the K2's 27 litre Doosan DV27K V12 engine. Previous production batches of the tank were fitted with the German Renk transmission, which has five forward and three reverse gears.

Hyundai Rotem is currently building the third batch of K2 MBTs for the RoKA. It is reported in South Korean media that fourth-batch production will start in 2028 but this is not confirmed.

DAPA also approved the LAMD project, with a value of KRW2.9 trillion (USD2.1 billion). DAPA said the project will run from 2022 to 2033 and is aimed at “minimising damage from attacks from North Korean long-range artillery”.