Hyundai Rotem Presents Its New Generation Main Battle Tank Concept at ADEX 2023.

After its initial reveal in 2022, Hyundai Rotem once again showcased its Next-Generation Main Battle Tank (NG-MBT) at this year's ADEX 2033 event. While many details remain under wraps, the company continues to supply K2 tanks to the Army of the Republic of Korea (AROC), which are also likely to undergo potential upgrades.
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Mockup of the new generation K2 Main Battle Tank (Picture source: Vidéo footage from Army Recognition)

Hyundai Rotem's forward-looking NG-MBT has garnered significant interest, especially concerning its crew configuration. Initially designed to operate with a two-person crew housed in an armored capsule inside the hull, the company is now reassessing this approach. Questions are being raised as to whether a two-man crew could effectively manage prolonged operations. As a result, a three-person crew option is also being considered.

The NG-MBT will feature a crewless turret positioned at the rear of the vehicle, indicating that the powertrain is located at the front—a design choice aimed at maximizing crew safety. This layout reflects the configuration of the Israeli Merkava, established years ago. Regarding propulsion, the company is considering an all-electric system, equipped with hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, and two electric motors situated at the front. Although the exact power specifications have not been disclosed, given the anticipated weight of under 55 tons, the tank's power output should be competitive compared to existing main battle tanks. The all-electric engines promise improved acceleration, a crucial factor for repositioning after firing. Additionally, rubber tracks are under study to reduce weight, vibrations, and ultimately, crew fatigue.

The NG-MBT's primary weapon will be a high-pressure 130mm cannon, a caliber also developed by Rheinmetall in Europe for their MBT Panther. While it's not clear to what extent Hyundai Rotem has collaborated with the German company, South Korea has historically preferred in-house system development. The tank will feature an automatic loading system, but the number of ready-to-fire rounds has not been disclosed. There is also a desire to adopt a standardized ammunition format, as diversification of ammunition sources becomes a critical global issue.

The NG-MBT will utilize a thermal sleeve along the main cannon to minimize its thermal footprint. The vehicle might also feature technologies to reduce its radar signature, although this has not been explicitly confirmed. The tank will employ a next-generation, locally produced active protection system. Sensors on the turret will likely be dedicated to identifying and classifying incoming threats.

A remote weapon station equipped with a 12.7mm machine gun is mounted on the roof. The design of the station also appears to aim at minimizing radar visibility. A missile launcher is also included, although Hyundai Rotem specified that they are not currently considering a dual-purpose launcher capable of firing trailing munitions as well. A drone jammer is installed on the roof, and the rear of the turret features a takeoff and landing system for rotary-wing unmanned aerial systems.

As technological advances continue to influence design, Hyundai Rotem plans to unveil a prototype by 2030.