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K2 tanks are seen at a parade to celebrate the Armed Forces Day in downtown Seoul on Oct. 1 (Yonhap)
The state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Monday announced its bid to make new 150 units of K2 tanks’ powerpack — comprising a 1,500-horsepower engine and transmission — domestically produced.
The tanks with South Korean-made 1,500 horsepower engines and gear shifts narrowly failed to pass the durability test, but the DAPA decided to push ahead with the tank mass production plan as the South Korean transmission provider came up with additional measures to improve the quality. 
The agency also said that South Korea will push for missile shield introduction two years earlier than previously scheduled amid a growing missile threat from North Korea.
South Korea’s low-altitude missile defense system, which would cost the country 2.95 trillion won ($2.13 billion) in total, will be ready for deployment by no later than 2033. The project kicked off in 2022.
The DAPA said in a statement South Korea will preparing an “anti-missile defense system equivalent to (Israel’s) Iron Dome or stronger,” adding the adoption of the system will “minimize the damage from North Korea’s long-range artillery shells.”
DAPA also unveiled a 1.95 trillion won plan until 2031 to acquire more PAC-3 interceptors for the Patriot missile system than previously planned, and improve the launch pads to achieve stronger land-based air defense capabilities in the Greater Seoul area and areas designated as “important national facilities.” Under the previous plan, South Korea planned to spend some 750 billion won until 2027.
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