Hyundai Rotem has signed an agreement to integrate Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ Trophy active protection system onto the K2 main battle tank, marking the first time the South Korea-made armored vehicle will carry such a system.
Announced in Kielce, Poland, the deal covers both the baseline K2 and upgraded K2PL variants being delivered to Warsaw under a contract for 180 tanks. Future South Korean platforms are also expected to receive the system.
Rafael’s Trophy detects incoming anti-tank weapons, tracks their trajectory, and intercepts them with countermeasures before impact.
The system is already fielded on Israel’s Merkava, the US Abrams, Germany’s Leopard 2, and the UK’s Challenger main battle tanks.
Although the contract value was not disclosed, industry estimates put the cost of installing the system at about $300,000 per tank.
“With a strong track record on the battlefield, the Trophy APS offers a significant opportunity to enhance the protection of the K2 main battle tank,” said Hyung-joon Joo, senior vice president and head of Hyundai Rotem’s defense research center.
Expanding Defense Cooperation
The agreement formalizes cooperation on production, marketing, local adaptation, and lifecycle support for Seoul’s military and potential export customers.
Executives said the partnership combines Rafael’s combat experience with Hyundai Rotem’s industrial base to expand opportunities in overseas tenders, especially in Europe, where demand for advanced tanks has risen.
“This agreement represents a shared commitment to advancing battlefield survivability for next-generation armored platforms,” said Tzvi Marmor, head of Rafael’s land and naval division.
“We are proud to deepen our collaboration with Hyundai Rotem and look forward to combining Rafael’s operational combat experience with Korea’s industrial and technological strength to support both local and international defense needs.”
