Israeli concern Rafael Advanced defence Systems and South Korean company Hyundai Rotem signed a strategical cooperation agreement. Its object is to integrate, produce and support the life cycle of the active protection strategy of the Trophy vehicle. It will be equipped with basic K2 tanks – both in the version utilized by the Republic of Korea and in the colonized K2PL variant.
Both Korean Hyundai Rotem and Israeli Rafael are guests of this year's global Defence manufacture Salon in Kielce. Guests from Asia can watch the K2 base tank, among others. Rafael, on the another hand, presented, among others, the strategy of combating flying drones Drone Dome or a fresh version of the rocket led by Spike NLOS. The largest arms trade fair in Poland was an chance to sign a cooperation agreement between both companies.
Hyundai Rotem announced that he would integrate a combat-tested active Trophy vehicle protection strategy from Rafael with the K2 base tank, including a colonized version of K2PL. This is the first situation in which the South Korean armor platform will be equipped with specified an advanced active protection system. This decision is crucial not only for the safety of crews, but besides for the competitiveness of K2 in global arms markets.
Adapted to modern battlefield
The Trophy strategy is an active vehicle defence strategy (APS) that detects, identifies and destroys incoming grenades, missiles and anti-tank missiles before they scope the protected vehicle. The strategy radar follows the track e.g. the rocket and then activates the kinetic agent, which neutralises the threat at a safe distance from the vehicle. This strategy is constantly developed and adapted to the challenges of the modern battlefield.
One specified modification is the introduction of anti-drone solutions. Currently, Trophy effectively captures and neutralizes unmanned vehicles, thus expanding the protection of armoured vehicles.
Better protected K2 tanks
– The agreement signed in Kielce is simply a joint commitment to increase the endurance of fresh generation armored platforms in the modern battlefield," Tzvi Marmor, Executive Vice president and Head of the Land and Marine Systems Department at Rafael stressed.
Hyundai Rotem representatives stress that introducing Trophy to K2 tanks will be a milestone for the South Korean defence industry. “With extended experience on the battlefield, the active vehicle protection strategy Trophy will importantly increase the level of K2 security,” said Hyung-Joon Jo, elder Vice president and Head of the Hyundai Rotem Defence investigation and improvement Centre. “The close cooperation of both companies will let full integration of the system, tailored specifically to K2, while maintaining its flexibility and adaptability for a wide scope of users”, he added.
New tab for K2
Integration with Trophy will increase the attractiveness of the South Korean tank in abroad tenders. Especially in Europe, where respective countries – including Poland – are considering or have already decided to buy K2, the introduction of specified an advanced protection strategy can be an crucial argument in the decisions on the choice of equipment.
From the Polish perspective, integration of Trophy with K2PL tanks is simply a crucial improvement in the protection of armored vehicles utilized by the military, giving increased endurance and operating advantage in the modern land war.
