An improved version of the Cheonma-2 main battle tank (M2020), a product of North Korea’s domestic defense industry, was revealed in new images released on North Korean social media platforms on May 3, 2025. The tank was shown to the public for the first time during a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to a military facility.
This new Cheonma-2 variant stands out as a further development of the modernized version that was first introduced at the 2020th anniversary parade of the Workers' Party of Korea in 75. The most notable innovations in the tank include a modern active protection system (AKS/APS), remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS/ROWS), anti-tank missile (ATGM) launchers, new-generation optical systems, explosive reactive armor (ERA), and systems such as wire mesh that protects against anti-tank rockets.
Design and Layout
The new Cheonma-2 main battle tank maintains a classic main battle tank layout, with the driver positioned in the front center of the hull, the turret in the middle of the tank, and the power pack in the rear. While the tank’s chassis structure is similar to previous models, the turret design bears a striking resemblance to South Korea’s modern main battle tank, the K2 Black Panther. According to a report by defense analytics platform Arm Recognition, this has led to speculation that North Korea has either reverse-engineered the design or copied the K2’s concept.
Active Protection System (ACS) Integration
One of the most striking developments in the new model is the integration of a modern active protection system (AKS/APS). When the published images are examined, it is pointed out that there are radar modules and countermeasure launchers similar to the Iron Fist active protection system developed by the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, mounted on the front and sides of the tank. Such active protection systems are capable of automatically detecting incoming threats such as anti-tank missiles (ATGMs) and RPGs (Ruchnoy Protivotankovyy Granatomyot – Hand-Type Anti-Tank Grenade Launcher) and neutralizing them with hard-kill or decoy launchers (soft-kill). This modernization significantly increases the survivability of the tank crew and the vehicle, while also clearly demonstrating the importance given to anti-tank threats with modern tandem warheads.
Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) and Anti-Tank Missile Launchers
In addition to the tank’s defensive capabilities, there is also a remote-controlled weapon station (ROWS) mounted on the left side of the turret. This system allows the tank crew to use a weapon such as a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun safely without leaving the armored vehicle to effectively engage enemy infantry and low-altitude air threats. On the right side of the turret are anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launchers. This integration significantly increases the Cheonma-2’s long-range armor-piercing capability, expanding the tank’s offensive capabilities and potentially giving it the ability to counter more advanced enemy armored vehicles.
New Generation Optical Systems
The new Cheonma-2 tank also features significant innovations in optical systems. Numerous new sensors integrated into the turret armor and a central panoramic vision system positioned on the top of the turret are noteworthy. This advanced system aims to provide the tank commander with a 360-degree field of view, facilitating target detection, environmental awareness (situational awareness), and effective management of the battlefield. Advanced optics will also increase the tank’s operational effectiveness at night and in adverse weather conditions.
As a result, the new generation Cheonma-2 main battle tank developed by North Korea is equipped with significant improvements such as modern active protection systems, remote-controlled weapon station, anti-tank missiles and advanced optical systems. Although the similarity in the tank's turret design to the South Korean K2 Black Panther is striking, the integrated modern technologies are considered an indicator of North Korea's efforts to increase its defense capabilities. These developments stand out as a situation that should be closely monitored in terms of military balances and technological competition in the region.
