Rafael and Hyundai Rotem Sign TROPHY APS Deal, Boosting Korea-Israel Defense Ties

In a significant expansion of Korea–Israel defense cooperation, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Hyundai Rotem Company (HRC) signed a strategic teaming agreement on Wednesday at the MSPO 2025 defense expo in Poland. The deal paves the way for Israel’s TROPHY Active Protection System (APS) to be integrated into South Korea’s K2 Main Battle Tank.

The agreement, signed at HRC’s booth in the presence of senior officials from both firms, covers integration, production, marketing, localization, and full life-cycle support for the TROPHY APS on both the K2 tank and future platforms used by the Republic of Korea.

“This agreement represents a shared commitment to advancing battlefield survivability for next-generation armored platforms,” said Tzvi Marmor, Rafael’s executive VP and head of Land and Naval Systems. “It combines Rafael’s operational experience with Korea’s industrial and technological strength.”

Already deployed on Israeli Merkava tanks and Namer APCs, the TROPHY APS has a proven record in intercepting real-time anti-tank threats.

“With a strong track record on the battlefield, the TROPHY system offers a significant opportunity to enhance the protection of the K2,” said Hyung-Joon Jo, SVP and head of HRC’s Defense Solutions R&D Center. He emphasized that the collaboration would tailor the APS for Korean platforms while positioning it for international markets.

The deal expands on an earlier memorandum of understanding and sets the framework for developing a Korean variant of the TROPHY APS, co-produced by HRC and Rafael. The system will also be integrated into the K2PL tanks ordered by Poland part of a wider Polish military buildup amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Stas Aideman, Rafael’s business marketing director, confirmed that the partnership would lead to a localized APS solution and serve the growing global demand for active protection systems. “TROPHY has evolved over 15 years of combat use, and this agreement keeps it at the cutting edge of armored defense,” he said.

The announcement also underscores Israel’s growing role in international defense collaboration. Since initiating diplomatic ties in 1962, Israel and South Korea have built a thriving arms trade, with notable deals including UAVs, radar systems, loitering munitions, and precision missiles.

As threats to armored vehicles evolve, TROPHY’s battlefield-tested reliability and real-time defense capabilities are expected to give the K2 MBT a major edge in export markets.

The partnership aligns with South Korea’s goals of defense self-sufficiency and export-oriented growth. For Rafael, it opens greater access to one of Asia’s fastest-growing defense markets.

“Korea wants more independence in its defense manufacturing,” said Aideman. “They don’t just want to buy they want to build. And we are fully on board with that vision.” Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.