ROK Defense officials estimate that around 40 K2 tanks could be fielded with the ROK Marine Corps 1st Division within two to three yearsLee Yong-cheol, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), said on Jan. 14 during a defense policy briefing with the Ministry of National Defense that the ROK Marine Corps K2 tank program is a “core project for establishing a quasi–fourth service structure for the ROK Marine Corps.” He called for swift revisions and verification of operational requirements so the program can formally begin within the year.

The ROK Marine Corps has repeatedly requested the replacement of its aging K1E1, K1A2 tanks with the more advanced K2 platform for its 1st and 2nd Divisions, but the effort has remained stalled pending a formal requirement decision.

If the requirement is approved in the first half of this year, deployment could proceed rapidly. Defense officials estimate that around 40 K2 tanks could be fielded with the ROK Marine Corps 1st Division within two to three years. A follow-on delivery of roughly 40 additional tanks to the 2nd Division would bring the total ROK Marine Corps K2 fleet to more than 80 vehicles.

Officials say the move would significantly enhance the ROK Marine Corps’ heavy combat power, improving survivability, firepower, and interoperability with Army armored units amid an increasingly complex regional security environment.

K-DEFENSE NEWS | Strategic Analysis Desk

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