South Korea to equip K2 Black Panther tanks with anti-drone protection system
Seoul has launched a multi-billion-won program to add an active protection system and jamming equipment to its K2 Black Panther main battle tanks.
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced a 3.43 trillion-won initiative to retrofit its K2 Black Panther main battle tanks with an active protection system capable of intercepting anti-tank missiles and small drones. The package also includes a jammer to disrupt UAV and improvised explosive device signals and a remote-controlled weapons station that lets crews fire while remaining sealed inside the hull.
Development will run from 2028 through 2046, and the first modernised tanks are expected to be fielded in 2033. The upgrade responds to the growing threat of semi-autonomous aerial weapons, which have destroyed numerous advanced tanks in Ukraine, including Russian and Western models. Seoul hopes the enhancement will keep the K2 competitive with emerging rivals such as North Korea’s Chonma-20 MBT. The K2, already praised for its composite armor, ERA and advanced fire control, will gain an additional layer of defense against a key vulnerability.
Why it matters
Adding anti-drone defenses helps keep South Korea’s most advanced tank viable against modern battlefield threats.
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