AQAP-2110 quality assurance standard certified

K2 tank and variants covered; expansion to other products planned

Shin Sang-beom (right), head of the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, and Hyundai Rotem President Lee Yong-bae pose for a photo after a NATO quality assurance certification ceremony at Hyundai Rotem's headquarters in Uiwang on Monday. [Hyundai Rotem]
Shin Sang-beom (right), head of the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, and Hyundai Rotem President Lee Yong-bae pose for a photo after a NATO quality assurance certification ceremony at Hyundai Rotem's headquarters in Uiwang on Monday. [Hyundai Rotem]

Hyundai Rotem's K2 tank has received NATO quality assurance system certification, formally meeting the quality standards required for defense procurement by NATO member states and partner nations — a milestone the company says will sharpen its competitiveness in global defense tenders.

Hyundai Rotem said Tuesday it held a certification ceremony at its Uiwang headquarters on Monday alongside the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DATQ). At the event, attended by DATQ head Shin Sang-beom and Hyundai Rotem President Lee Yong-bae, the company received the NATO quality assurance system certification AQAP-2110 from DATQ.

Hyundai Rotem is the first South Korean company to obtain AQAP-2110 certification. It is also the first company to receive the certification since DATQ secured official accreditation as a NATO quality assurance certifying body through international cooperation.

AQAP-2110 is the NATO quality assurance standard used for defense procurement within member states, comparable to South Korea's Defense Quality Management System. The standard sets out NATO quality requirements across design, development and manufacturing stages, and is widely regarded as a key prerequisite for expanding exports to NATO countries and partner nations.

The certification covers Hyundai Rotem's full tank lineup — including the K2 main battle tank and variants such as recovery, bridge-laying and obstacle-clearing tanks — across design, development and manufacturing. The company plans to extend AQAP-2110 certification to products beyond tanks as market demand warrants.

Hyundai Rotem spent several years preparing for the certification. In line with DATQ's 2024 announcement of a plan to introduce the NATO quality assurance certification regime, the company established an internal TF spanning five divisions and pursued systematic preparation through external expert training and consulting. The effort involved drafting and revising a total of 33 items, including relevant manuals, before the company underwent DATQ's formal audit.

With the certification secured, the K2 tank now proactively satisfies the eligibility requirements for defense procurement tenders within the NATO sphere, and Hyundai Rotem expects to gain a competitive edge in future bid evaluations and negotiations. NATO accounts for 55 percent of global defense spending, making it the world's largest defense market. South Korea is working to establish the institutional groundwork for participation in NATO's joint procurement market through negotiations on a basic procurement agreement with the alliance.

Hyundai Rotem said it expects the certification to benefit not only its NATO push but its broader global market strategy. By obtaining the NATO standard certification, the company has secured an objective, internationally recognized credential for reliability, quality and technology as it targets export markets in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

"Under a quality-first philosophy, we have fully satisfied the NATO quality assurance system requirements and achieved the distinction of being the first South Korean company to obtain AQAP-2110 certification," a Hyundai Rotem official said. "Building on this certification, we will work with our partners to accelerate our push into global markets, strengthen the industrial ecosystem and do our utmost to elevate the standing of South Korea's defense industry."

Meanwhile, 37 of Hyundai Rotem's top executives, including President Lee, recently purchased 8,683 shares in the company for about 1.6 billion won ($1.06 million) as part of a strategy to reinforce management accountability and enhance shareholder value.


eyre@heraldcorp.com