Hyundai Rotem has become the first South Korean defense company to receive NATO’s Allied Quality Assurance Publications (AQAP)-2110 certification for its armored vehicle portfolio, including the K2 main battle tank (MBT). The certification confirms that the company’s defense products comply with NATO quality assurance standards across the design, manufacturing, and production lifecycle. Widely regarded as a key requirement for supplying military equipment to NATO member states, the AQAP-2110 accreditation is expected to enhance Hyundai Rotem’s competitiveness in future European defense procurement programs.
The certification currently covers the K2 MBT, armored recovery vehicles, and combat engineering platforms, with the company planning to extend the accreditation to additional defense products. According to Korea Times, the milestone aligns with South Korea’s broader strategy to expand K-Defense exports across Europe, where demand has increased due to NATO interoperability, competitive pricing, rapid delivery capabilities, and technology transfer offerings. Hyundai Rotem’s European presence grew significantly after Poland signed a framework agreement for up to 1,000 K2 tanks, including local production, with the first vehicles delivered just three months after the August 2022 contract. Meanwhile, Hanwha Aerospace has strengthened South Korea’s regional footprint by securing K239 Chunmoo MLRS contracts in Estonia, Norway, and Poland, while partnering with WB Electronics to manufacture Chunmoo missiles in Poland.
