In a move signaling the deep defense ties between Jerusalem and Seoul, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) signed a strategic teaming agreement on Wednesday at the MSPO 2025 defense exhibition in Poland, paving the way for the integration of Israel’s battle-proven TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) onto South Korea’s K2 Main Battle Tank.
The agreement, signed at HRC’s booth in the presence of senior executives from both companies, will see the two cooperate on the integration, production, marketing, localization, and full life-cycle support of the TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) on HRC’s K2 Main Battle Tank and future platforms for the Republic of Korea.
“This agreement represents a shared commitment to advancing battlefield survivability for next-generation armored platforms,” said Tzvi Marmor, executive vice president and head of Rafael’s Land and Naval Systems Division. “We are proud to deepen our collaboration with Hyundai Rotem and look forward to combining Rafael’s operational combat experience with Korea’s industrial and technological strength.”
The TROPHY system, developed by Rafael and already deployed on IDF Merkava tanks and Namer APCs, has proven its effectiveness in intercepting anti-tank threats in real-time combat.
“With a strong track record on the battlefield, the Trophy APS offers a significant opportunity to enhance the protection of the K2 main battle tank,” said Hyung-Joon Jo, senior vice president and head of Hyundai Rotem’s Defense Solutions R&D Center.
“Through a strategic teaming agreement, both companies will work closely to optimize and fully integrate the APS, tailoring it specifically for the K2 while ensuring adaptability for a wide range of customers. We expect that the Trophy APS will also benefit greatly from the global market expansion of the K2 main battle tank.”
According to a senior Rafael official, the two companies will develop a Korean APS system for the K2 MBT based on the Trophy, with some elements designed and manufactured by Hyundai Rotem.
“It takes years of R&D to develop such sophisticated systems,” the official said, adding that “The Trophy has existed since 2011 and has been deployed by the IDF, where it’s gained combat experience. It’s 15 years old already and constantly being improved with a lot of upgrades according to battlefield feedback.”
The agreement follows an initial Memorandum of Understanding signed by the companies and sets a clear framework for joint activities supporting the Republic of Korea’s APS program for other vehicles, such as Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and additional global opportunities where demand for advanced survivability systems is on the rise.
It also reflects a broader trend of Israeli defense technologies being adopted by global partners seeking combat-proven solutions.
Israel and South Korea initiated diplomatic relations in 1962 and, despite a considerable lull in relations between the 1970s and 1980s, the two have enjoyed a thriving arms trade and strong diplomatic relationship since the 1990s. With hostile neighbors and ongoing security challenges, defense and security ties have flourished between the two and have given rise to a greater demand for weaponry.
Trophy will also be integrated into the K2PL version that HRC sold to Poland.
Last month, Hyundai Rotem signed a deal to supply a second batch of K2 tanks to Poland. In the agreement, as part of Warsaw’s major military rearming plan during Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, Poland will receive 180 K2 tanks and 81 support vehicles, with 64 of them being the locally produced K2PL version.
As threats to armored vehicles evolve – from RPGs to advanced anti-tank guided missiles – the integration of active protection systems, such as TROPHY, is seen as essential for maintaining battlefield dominance. For Hyundai Rotem, the partnership offers access to cutting-edge Israeli technology, while Rafael continues to gain a foothold in one of Asia’s most dynamic defense markets.
“Korea is looking to be more independent in the manufacturing of their defense products,” the senior official said, adding, “Many countries don’t want to just purchase a system; they want to cooperate in making them. And we embrace that.”
The collaboration is expected to include local production and co-development efforts, aligning with South Korea’s push for defense self-reliance and export-oriented growth. With the K2 tank already gaining traction in Europe and Asia, the addition of TROPHY could be a game-changer in future procurement competitions.
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