Within the framework of the MSPO 2025 international defense fair, held in Kielce, Poland, the announcement was made of a strategic agreement between the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the South Korean Hyundai Rotem Company to integrate the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) into the K2 Black Panther tanks of the South Korean Army, as well as into its Polish version, the K2PL. This milestone strengthens military cooperation between both countries while at the same time boosting the international projection of the South Korean main battle tank.
The agreement, signed in an official ceremony attended by senior executives of both firms, establishes a framework covering technological integration, local production, life-cycle support, and global commercialization strategies. With this alliance, Rafael and Hyundai Rotem seek not only to meet the needs of the South Korean Army but also to consolidate the K2 Black Panther as a competitive option in future international tenders, especially in the European market.
This understanding follows up on a previously signed Memorandum of Understanding, but now sets concrete guidelines to advance industrial and technological cooperation. Rafael highlighted that the agreement reflects a shared commitment to enhance the combat survivability of next-generation armored vehicles, combining Israeli operational experience with South Korean industrial capability.
Hyundai Rotem, for its part, confirmed that the Trophy system will be incorporated both into the standard K2 and into the K2PL variant intended for Poland. The company’s Senior Vice President, Hyung-Joon Jo, stressed that the integration of the APS will significantly increase protection against modern anti-tank threats, while also allowing the solution to be adapted for different customers already considering the K2 as an alternative for their modernization programs.
Operational since 2011, the Trophy APS has amply demonstrated its effectiveness in combat. It is the only fully integrated active protection system deployed by NATO nations, with proven results in high-intensity scenarios. It currently equips Israel’s Merkava tanks and Namer armored vehicles, as well as the U.S. Army’s M1 Abrams, the British Challengers, and the German Leopard 2s, making it a global benchmark standard.
The incorporation of the Trophy into the K2 will not only increase crew safety but also enhance the export potential of this main battle tank. Military analysts consider that this modernization will provide the K2 with a comparative advantage over European and U.S. models, especially in tenders where platform protection is a decisive factor.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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