South Korea Reinvents Tank Defense With Next-Gen APS

Hanwha Systems’ next-gen APS uses AI, sensors, and hard-kill interceptors to detect and neutralize threats, boosting tank survivability.

South Korea’s Hanwha Systems is stepping up armored vehicle defense with a new active protection system (APS), promising to intercept threats before they even reach the hull.

Showcased at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, the new APS is designed to stop everything from rocket-propelled grenades and anti-tank guided missiles to high-explosive anti-tank and kinetic energy rounds.

It also aims to provide top-attack protection against loitering munitions while detecting slow-moving drones, a company spokesperson told Janes.

Leveraging AI-powered software, the system can reportedly assess the speed, trajectory, and type of incoming threats in real time, allowing countermeasures to act almost instantly.

Four active electronically scanned array radar panels and electro-optic/infrared sensors give the system 360-degree awareness, feeding both passive and active detection channels into the AI decision loop.

Two hard-kill launchers per turret side carry interceptors that detonate near threats, neutralizing projectiles before they reach the vehicle, while the software continuously adapts to new attack patterns.

Adapting to Modern Threats

Hanwha Systems stressed that battlefield expansion and the rise of autonomous drones make survivability a top priority for next-gen armored vehicles.

The upgraded APS combines AI, sensors, and hard-kill interceptors into a single, integrated system, marking a move from conventional armor to intelligent protection.

“Building on these capabilities, we aim to deliver hyper-connected, automated, intelligent, and unmanned land-system solutions that elevate the Army’s operational readiness,” the company stated.

Testing is planned for 2027, and the company said the APS could be applied across multiple tank and armored vehicle platforms.