MSPO 2024: Hyundai Rotem's K2EX tank paves the way for Polish K2PL configuration.

At the 32nd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2024), held in Poland from September 3 to 6, 2024, Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean defense manufacturer, presented the K2EX Black Panther Main Battle Tank (MBT) following its recent unveiling at ADEX 2023, as part of Hyundai Rotem's efforts to interest international customers. The Polish variant of the K2 Black Panther, the K2PL, is expected to share many features with this K2EX, also known as the "Export" model of the K2.
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The K2EX, along with other variants of the K2 Black Panther like the K2A1 and the Polish K2PL, can also be equipped with two optional jammers to enhance protection against drone attacks. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The K2 Black Panther, designed and produced by Hyundai Rotem, has been in service with South Korea's armed forces since 2016. The tank, whose development began in 1995, has completed three mass production phases, with a fourth planned to fulfill the South Korean Army's requirement for 600 units. The K2 model incorporates various technologies, including advancements in armor protection, mobility, fire control, and firepower compared to its predecessor, the K1.

The K2EX Black Panther is designed to meet diverse requirements from global customers, featuring several advanced technologies and defensive systems. One of the tank's key features is the Drone Hunter XR anti-drone gun, mounted on the Remote-Controlled Weapon System (RCWS). This system, which is already in use by the South Korean Army, provides defense against aerial threats, such as hostile drones. Additionally, the K2EX includes a jamming device centrally positioned on the turret, intended to disrupt enemy communications and drone controls. The tank, along with its variants like the K2A1 and the Polish K2PL models, can also be equipped with two optional jammers to enhance protection against drone attacks.

The tank is equipped with the Korean Active Protection System (KAPS 2), developed by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Hanwha Systems, formerly known as Hanwha Thales. KAPS 2 is designed to detect and neutralize incoming threats, such as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and rocket-propelled grenades, by using radar and infrared tracking data. The system works by firing interceptor grenades to destroy these threats and also deploys kinetic and smoke grenades. The arrangement of KAPS 2 components on the K2EX turret differs from the standard K2 model to enhance the tank's survivability on the battlefield.

The tank's main armament consists of a 120mm smoothbore cannon with an automatic loading system, reducing the crew size to three and supporting a firing rate of up to 10 rounds per minute, with the capability for sustained fire for approximately three minutes. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The K2EX has a three-person crew and a combat weight of 60 tons. It is powered by a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine, which allows it to reach a maximum speed of 68 km/h on paved roads and 50 km/h on unpaved terrain. The tank includes a fully automatic transmission, an In-arm Suspension Unit (ISU), and a dynamic track tension control system, which are designed to improve mobility. Its defensive features include composite armor, explosive reactive armor (ERA), the KAPS 2 active protection system, an anti-drone system, collective protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) threats, and an automatic fire suppression system.

The K2EX also incorporates information-injected ammunition, which allows the crew to control the timing and characteristics of ammunition explosions. This capability is intended to offer flexibility in combat scenarios, enabling precise adjustments to how and when rounds detonate. The tank's main armament consists of a 120mm smoothbore cannon with an automatic loading system, reducing the crew size to three and supporting a firing rate of up to 10 rounds per minute, with the capability for sustained fire for approximately three minutes. The ammunition includes domestically produced tungsten Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) kinetic energy penetrators and multipurpose High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rounds, aimed at various targets.

The fire control system of the K2EX includes day and night optics, a two-axis stabilization digital fire control computer, and automatic target detection and tracking functions. The 120mm smoothbore gun is compatible with NATO ammunition, and the autoloading system accommodates 16 rounds, with storage capacity for up to 40 rounds. The tank's additional armaments include a 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon system and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The K2EX integrates several operational systems, such as a battlefield management system, an auxiliary power unit, built-in test systems, and an embedded training system.

The K2EX is also equipped with the Korean Active Protection System (KAPS 2), a hard-kill APS designed to detect and neutralize incoming threats, including anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and rocket-propelled grenades, by utilizing radar and infrared tracking data. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The K2EX is further armed with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm K-6 heavy machine gun, designed for engaging infantry and lightly armored targets. Its defense includes composite armor and an Active Defense System with explosive reactive armor blocks, providing resistance against anti-tank munitions. The tank also features a Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) and uses Visual and Infrared Screening Smoke (VIRSS) grenades to obscure its position and disrupt enemy targeting.

The tank's situational awareness and targeting capabilities are supported by a 360-degree helmet-mounted sighting system for the commander and driver, using See-Through Armor (STA) augmented reality technology. This system, similar to the Israeli Elbit Systems' Iron Vision, allows crew members to "see through" the tank's armor, providing enhanced awareness of their surroundings.

The Polish variant, the K2PL, is expected to share many features with this new configuration. On August 5, 2024, South Korean news outlet MBC News reported the loading of another batch of K2 tanks, in the GF (Gap Filler) version, destined for Poland. These will join the 46 vehicles already delivered from an initial batch of 180 units ordered in 2022. According to the delivery schedule, Hyundai Rotem plans to deliver 56 vehicles to Poland in 2024. With 18 tanks already delivered earlier in the year, 38 more units are still expected.

The first batch of 10 tanks was delivered on December 9, 2022, followed by additional batches of 5, 7, and 6 units in March, May, and June 2023, respectively. The remaining 96 units are set for delivery by the end of 2025. These deliveries are part of an agreement signed on August 26, 2022, between the Armament Agency of the Polish Ministry of National Defense and Hyundai Rotem Company, valued at $3.37 billion. The agreement specifies that all 180 tanks will be delivered between 2022 and 2025.

The K2 Black Panther, designed and produced by Hyundai Rotem, has been in service with South Korea's armed forces since 2016, and has completed three mass production phases, with a fourth planned to fulfill the South Korean Army's requirement for 600 units. (Picture source: Army Recognition)