New K2 tank variant unveiled with advanced Israeli defence system
At the MSPO 2024 trade show, a new variant of the South Korean K2 tank was unveiled. This variant is expected to serve as the base model for the K2PL. Here’s what defines the latest version.
Just like in 2023, the K2 tank was showcased at MSPO, but this time, a version equipped with the KAPS-2 defence system, a variant of the Israeli Trophy, was displayed. The new vehicle also features reinforced armour and a remotely controlled turret designed for hunting drones if the onboard jammer fails to neutralise them.
New K2 tank - based on an Israeli system
The new active protection system, KAPS-2, is a licensed variant of the Israeli Trophy system, which has performed excellently during combat in the Gaza Strip. It is possible that the much higher fatality rate among people nearby when the original KAPS (Korean Active Protection System) was active prompted the Koreans to abandon it.
Notably, Trophy also generates many dangerous fragments for infantry soldiers, but not as many as KAPS. For this reason, the Israeli system is also present on tanks like the Leopard 2A8 or M1A2 Abrams SEP V3.
Module for combating drones
As a representative of the Korean manufacturer admitted in a conversation with us, the system is not capable of combating objects falling vertically onto the tank. The solution would be a radar antenna and launcher on the roof, but there is no space for it on the vehicle. Therefore, for all drones dropping PG-7VL grenades or similar, a remotely controlled weapon module with a large-calibre Browning M2 machine gun should suffice.
The turret has an electro-optical head with a thermal imaging camera and can engage targets at a 90-degree angle. Meanwhile, as passive roof protection, there is a layer of reactive armour (visible as characteristic blocks in one of the photos) designed to disperse the cumulative stream of a dropped missile or grenade.
These blocks also appeared on the upper front armour plate beneath a secondary ammunition magazine. From what we have learned, the Koreans are working on creating a modernisation package for already-produced tanks.
