Hyundai Rotem announced on Friday the unveiling of its K2ME battle tank, a version of the K2 main battle tank specifically tailored for the Middle Eastern market. The K2ME is currently under development.
A rollout ceremony was held Thursday at Hyundai Rotem’s Changwon plant in South Gyeongsang Province, where the company showcased the actual K2ME platform.
“The support from the government and the National Assembly has revitalized the domestic defense industry,” stated Lee Yong-bae, CEO of Hyundai Rotem. “We will continue to develop future technologies that align with global technological dominance.”
The event was attended by representatives from the National Assembly and local governments, along with officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), according to the company. Military attachés from key Middle Eastern countries were also present, alongside industry partners and Hyundai Rotem employees.
The K2ME project is a modification and development initiative led by DAPA and the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement, which began in 2024.
Hyundai Rotem aims to increase the localization rate of K2 tank components beyond the current 90 percent. The use of some foreign-made parts has previously restricted exports to certain regions, including the Middle East. Increasing the use of domestically produced components enhances the K2 tank’s export potential.
Five newly developed core components for the K2ME were displayed at the rollout ceremony. These include a cooling housing, power pack radiator, auxiliary turret cooling system, hydraulic oil cooling device, and a flexible material fuel tank.
The domestically produced power pack features an upgraded radiator and cooling housing. The enhanced hydraulic fluid cooling system is critical for smooth driving and precise attitude control, ensuring stable mission performance even in extreme heat conditions, the company said. The modifications make the K2ME highly suitable for the harsh environments of the Middle East.
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