The Belgium-based Army Recognition analysis group published a series of photos on 29/12, depicting K2 Black Panther main battle tanks during a training exercise at a South Korean proving ground. One of the tanks was notably fitted with cage armor designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on its turret roof. This protective structure features a sloped roof combined with welded steel mesh panels supported by surrounding pillars.

The cage armor primarily covers the rear section of the turret, which houses the 120 mm ammunition compartment and the automatic loading system. This approach differs from some nations' designs that fully enclose the entire top surface of the turret.

South Korean K2 tank fitted with cage armor in a photo posted on 25/12. Photo: Facebook/Jonghoon Park

"The design team appears to have found a balanced solution to enhance protection against top-attack strikes without compromising operational capabilities", stated Teoman Nicanci, a defense expert at Army Recognition.

Other images reveal a line of K2 tanks, with the cage-armored vehicle firing. This particular tank was also equipped with numerous explosive reactive armor blocks on its sides and turret, unlike the other vehicles. Nicanci commented, "The presence of multiple K2 tanks indicates this is a unit-level assessment, not an isolated prototype test."

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has not commented on the development.

The K2 Black Panther is a main battle tank developed by South Korea starting in the 1990s and inducted into military service in 2014. The K2 tank combines features from German, French, and Russian designs, while also incorporating its own unique design suitable for the terrain of the Korean Peninsula.

A total of 440 vehicles have been produced since 2008 and delivered to the South Korean and Polish armies. Each vehicle has an estimated cost of 8,5 million USD.

South Korean K2 tank fitted with cage armor firing in a photo posted on 22/12. Photo: Facebook/Jonghoon Park

Cage armor first appeared on Russian tanks in 2021 as a temporary solution to counter bomb-dropping drones, which were prevalent in Iraq and Syria. Russian tanks involved in the campaign in Ukraine have since been equipped with substantial cage armor and steel mesh, often likened to turtle shells, to counter suicide drones. This type of armor has steadily improved and is continuously upgraded, capable of withstanding dozens of drones deployed by Ukraine.

Initially, Russian cage armor designs were deemed ineffective by Ukrainian and Western experts. However, they were later applied to numerous Challenger 2, Abrams, and Leopard 2 main battle tanks of the Ukrainian military. Many countries, including Israel and Japan, have also equipped their tanks with steel cages and turret roof covers to counter the drone threat. The US Army proposed spending 92 million USD in July to acquire 1.500 sets of cage armor for tanks and armored vehicles.

Pham Giang (According to Army Recognition)