Israel’s Rafael to equip South Korea’s K2 tanks with Trophy defense system in first-e

Israel is tightening its defense cooperation with South Korea: For the first time, South Korea’s K2 battle tanks will be fitted with Rafael’s Trophy active protection system.The agreement between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group and manufacturer of military vehicles, was signed on Wednesday at a defense exhibition in Poland. Under the deal, Trophy — the world’s only operational active protection system — will be installed on the K2 and later on additional South Korean platforms.

An IDF tank with a Trophy system

(Photo: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)

Trophy identifies anti-tank threats in real time, calculates their trajectory, and neutralizes or destroys them with countermeasures. The cost of installing the system on a single tank is estimated at about $300,000.

“This is a significant leap forward in the defensive capabilities of the K2 tank,” said Hyung-joon Joo, senior vice president and head of Hyundai Rotem’s R&D center. “It is the first time an active protection system will be integrated on South Korean tanks.”

The deal reflects a new stage in defense cooperation between Israel and South Korea, encompassing production, marketing, local adaptation, and full lifecycle support for both South Korea’s military and future international customers.

Rafael also seeks to expand strategic cooperation with South Korea on countering hypersonic missile threats from Iran and North Korea. In a recent interview with a South Korean newspaper, Yuval Baisky, a senior vice president at Rafael and head of its air defense division, called for closer ties between Israeli and Korean defense industries to meet that challenge.

“The agreement with Hyundai Rotem is a major step toward enhancing the survivability of the world’s most advanced battle tanks,” said Tzvi Marmor, senior vice president and head of Rafael’s Land and Naval Division. “We are combining Rafael’s extensive operational experience with South Korea’s industrial and technological capabilities to provide advanced protection solutions for the evolving battlefield.”

Industry officials say the partnership could strengthen K2’s position in international tenders, particularly in Europe, where demand for advanced battle tanks is rising. The deal links Rafael’s expertise in active protection for combat vehicles with Hyundai Rotem’s engineering strength, setting new standards for survivability and battlefield advantage in modern land forces.