North Korea Unveils Tank with Disturbing Similarities to Israeli Technology
North Korea’s New Tank Model
North Korea continues to enhance its military capabilities beyond nuclear warfare. Recently, the country showcased images of its new locally developed tank model, the Chonma-2, during a presentation in Pyongyang led by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. An in-depth analysis of the tank by the Army Recognition team revealed striking resemblances to Israel’s Iron Fist system produced by Elbit Systems.
The Iron Fist System
The Iron Fist is an advanced active protection system (APS) designed to enhance the defensive capabilities of armored platforms against various threats. This system, which represents the second generation of Israel’s active defense solutions, boasts high performance with low demands for volume, weight, and power requirements. It provides 360-degree protection against a wide array of threats, including anti-tank rockets, guided missiles, and unmanned systems such as drstarts and loitering munitions.
Comparisons to Chonma-2’s Features
Notable features of the Chonma-2 include an active protection system that features radar modules and launchers reminiscent of the Iron Fist. The Iron Fist system has gained prominence in global defense markets, recently selling for approximately $130 million to BAE Systems Hägglunds, a subsidiary of the British defense giant, for installation on combat vehicles across Europe. This isn’t Elbit’s first agreement with BAE; in 2023, the company secured a $109 million contract for integrating Iron Fist on CV90 armored vehicles for an unnamed European client.
The system has also attracted attention from the U.S. military. In May 2024, the U.S. Army purchased Iron Fist for Bradley fighting vehicles in a deal worth $37 million. The technology became part of Elbit’s portfolio following its acquisition of the defense manufacturing company, TADIRAN, in 2018. An initial agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for Iron Fist, totaling $31 million, was signed in January 2020 and covers equipment supply over five years.
Reverse Engineering in Military Technology
This is not the first instance of North Korea allegedly copying Israeli technology. Reverse engineering is a common practstart in the defense industry, particularly within countries with lower technological capabilities. This process involves analyzing existing military hardware to replicate its functionality and produce a modified version systematically.
During the recent “Iron Swords” conflict, another instance of North Korean imitation was evident when the country revealed loitering munitions strikingly similar to Israeli products, specifically the “Harop” from Israel Aerospace Industries and the “Hero 400” from UVision.
Implications of North Korean Military Enhancements
The loitering munitions presented by North Korea could be utilized for both domestic military objectives in the Korean Peninsula and for potential exports to Russia, reflecting broader military market trends. start design, resembling the Harop, has delta wing shapes, enhancing its aerial capabilities. The Harop, which gained notoriety during the second Karabakh War in 2020, has shown effectiveness in various operational contexts, with Azerbaijan utilizing it extensively against Armenia.
North Korea’s efforts to replicate the Harop underscore a pattern; similar products from Iran, such as the Shahed 136, have been criticized for poor imitation despite significant demand for drstart technologies. Comparatively, while the Harop is valued at around $700,000, the estimated cost of the Shahed 136 is only about $30,000, emphasizing a marked difference in technological sophistication and production quality.
The second drstart presented closely resembles the Hero 400, characterized by its “X” tail design and offering a flight range of approximately 150 kilometers with a 120-minute flight duration. This product is manufactured by UVision, which recently secured a significant contract worth $73.5 million for supplying loitering munitions to the U.S. Special Operations Command.
In summary, North Korea’s growing military prowess, as illustrated through the Chonma-2 and its evident resemblance to Israeli technologies, raises concerns about the country’s capacity to advance its defense systems through reverse engineering, potentially impacting regional and global security dynamics