The K2, unveiled in 2007 with the rollout of three prototypes, is one of the most advanced main battle tanks in the world.
Hyundai Rotem were scheduled to produce 390 units for the South Korean Army beginning in 2011 to replace K1 and aging M48 Patton tanks.
However a major set back to the program was announced in 2010. The National Assembly (Korea’s parliament) slashed 50 billion from the proposed 88.2 billion won for producing the new tanks.
Defence Minister Kim Tae-young admitted to the problems with the K2 power pack, which is comprised of a 1500-horsepower, 12-cylinder diesel engine and transmission (developed and manufactured by Doosan Infracore and S&T Heavy Industries).
"The K2 program will be delayed by one year, but the production of 100 tanks in 2014 will be possible," Kim said.
The K2 carries a three-person crew supported by an auto loading system and a locally developed 120-millimeter/55-caliber stabilized smoothbore gun. The fully digitalized vehicle has an electric gun/turret driving system, automatic sensor input and power monitoring & control system.
The K2 also provides a function of real time data communication between inter and intra vehicle personnel under the C4I digital command-and-control system. With the driver's front and rear view camera, any obstacle can be easily detected in front or back.
It is equipped with an active protection system against anti-tank guided missiles as well as composite armour and explosive reactive armour to maximize its survivability.
Its 1500-horsepower engine can power the tank to 70 kilometres per hour on paved roads and 50 kilometres per hour off-road. It can cross rivers as deep as 4.1 meters, a considerable improvement over the K1 and K1A1, and fire as soon as it resurfaces.
It can climb 60-degree slopes and vertical obstacles as high as 1.3 meters. The K2 is able to "sit," "stand," "kneel" and even "lean" sideways using in-arm suspension units.
The K2 product improvement programs include upgrading the semi-active in-arm suspension unit to an active in-arm suspension unit; integration of a high-resolution terrain-scanning system to the vehicle's suspension system; integration of a hard-kill anti-missile system; and the addition of non-explosive reactive armour.