South Korea has a large fleet of main battle tanks. As of 2026, it operates more than 2,100 K1 and K2 tanks of various versions, as well as older M48s.
These forces were built primarily with a potential war with North Korea in mind. They are intended to help repel an enemy offensive and support a subsequent counteroffensive. However, according to Dr. Ju Hyung Kim, president of the Institute for Security Management, a defense policy think tank affiliated with South Korea’s National Assembly, this approach is no longer sufficient for the modern battlefield. His analysis was published by The Defense Post.
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Kim argues that South Korea needs to adapt its tanks to a battlefield that has become far more transparent and saturated with low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles, which pose a major threat to armored vehicles.
As an example, Kim points to Ukraine and the modernization of the Leopard 1 with a Cockerill 3105 turret. He sees it as an example of how older platforms can be adapted for use on the modern battlefield.
At the same time, Kim stresses that South Korea should not blindly copy Ukraine’s experience. Some older platforms, including earlier K1 variants, could nevertheless be upgraded according to a similar concept and used to complement the country’s modern main battle tank fleet.
South Korean analysts also propose reconsidering the role of the K2 as a breakthrough platform. They suggest integrating reconnaissance drones, FPV countermeasures, electronic warfare units and other capabilities directly into armored battalions.
This would also require doctrinal changes governing how armored units operate on the modern battlefield.
One of the key priorities is improving tank survivability. This includes passive and active protection, electronic warfare systems and other countermeasures.
South Korea has already looked to Ukraine for solutions in the area of physical protection. In particular, it has adopted a version of the now almost legendary Ukrainian anti-drone “hood” designed to protect tank turrets from drone attacks.
Active protection systems are a much more difficult issue. As of today, there is no tank active protection system that has consistently demonstrated an ability to defeat FPV drones in real combat.
For example, russia’s Arena-M system recently appeared to fail during what was reportedly one of its first combat deployments. Ukrainian FPV drones managed to strike tanks equipped with the system.
Another example is the Israeli Trophy active protection system. Despite extensive promotional footage, its ability to counter FPV drone attacks in actual combat appears to remain questionable.
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