Hyundai Rotem Showcases 'K2 Tank' in Saudi Arabia, Top Weapon Importer... "Targeting Middle East Market"

Participation in the 1st Saudi International Defense Industry Exhibition
Large-scale exhibition with participation from 45 countries

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] Hyundai Rotem has embarked on pioneering the Middle Eastern market by participating in a large-scale defense exhibition held in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest importer of weapons.

On the 6th (local time), Hyundai Rotem announced that it participated in the 1st International Defense Exhibition (WDS) held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The event featured over 800 defense companies from 45 countries worldwide, including Hyundai Rotem, promoting their flagship products and technologies.

WDS is an exhibition jointly hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), and the state-owned defense company Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI). It covers a wide range of defense sectors including land, sea, and air weapon systems, as well as aerospace and cybersecurity. The event is planned to be held biennially going forward.

Hyundai Rotem exhibited four types of products at the Korean pavilion set up at the venue: the Middle Eastern version of the K2 tank, the multi-purpose unmanned vehicle (HR-Sherpa), an obstacle-clearing tank, and a wheeled armored vehicle.

The Middle Eastern K2 tank boasts the advantage of being a "customized tank" optimized for desert environments. It has enhanced cooling performance for the engine and the interior of the cockpit to ensure smooth operation even in the Middle East's scorching heat exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, and sunshades were also installed on the turret.

Additionally, the tracks, which are parts surrounding the tank's wheels, are made of special rubber material that allows for trouble-free driving even at high temperatures. The tank's exterior is painted yellow, which is advantageous for camouflage in desert terrain.

Considering future battlefield environments, Hyundai Rotem also showcased an advanced multi-purpose unmanned vehicle. This vehicle is a 6-wheeled electric drive type equipped with batteries, producing no engine noise, making it suitable for surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

It is equipped with various unmanned driving capabilities including remote driving, dependent driving that follows soldiers, and autonomous driving that moves along a designated route. Last month, it completed a demonstration operation with the South Korean military and finalized delivery, proving its quality and practicality.

In addition, an obstacle-clearing tank capable of removing landmines and various obstacles on the battlefield, and a wheeled armored vehicle that enhances the mobility and survivability of infantry units were also exhibited. The wheeled armored vehicle features indoor air conditioning as well as wheels equipped with independent suspension systems that excel at absorbing external shocks.

A Hyundai Rotem official stated, “We will do our best to ensure that Hyundai Rotem’s defense product lineup, including the K2 tank?which has recently proven its excellence in Europe, including Norway?and unmanned vehicles, receives more promotion and operational use in the Middle East region.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.