Hyundai Rotem Co., a locomotive and defense unit of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, is bidding to sell 76 units of K2 battle tank to Oman, a deal that could fetch up to 1 trillion won ($884.6 million).

According to industry sources on Sunday, Hyundai Rotem conducted a performance test of its K2 battle tank upgraded for desert run in Oman in July. It has changed the tank’s exterior color from black to sandy color and equipped a shade on top of a turret. The tank has a high-performing air conditioning system with a fan installed at turret. The company said it spent several months to modify the tank to fit for hot and dusty desert conditions, and especially focused on developing an exhaust system to cool the engine.

The Oman government has put up a tender for 76 battle tanks and will pick a supplier by the second quarter next year. The contract volume is expected to reach 1 trillion won given the price of 76 tanks at 760 billion won - 10 billion won per unit, plus additional munitions supplies.

The K2 is Korea’s first main battle tank fully built with the country’s indigenous technologies. The country embarked on the development of the K2 tank as a national defense project in 1995 and mass production in 2014. Hyundai Rotem was commissioned to produce the tank.

After exporting the K2’s key technologies to Turkey in 2008, Hyundai Rotem has stepped up efforts to export the tank to other countries. It first unveiled the K2 battle tank for desert run in September at DX Korea 2018, a defense exhibition.

By Kang Gye-man and Choi Mira

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]