Hyundai Rotem has become the first South Korean company to obtain NATO's AQAP-2110 quality assurance certification, marking a significant milestone that is expected to strengthen the company's competitiveness in the global defense market amid rising military spending across Europe.
According to the defense industry on Monday, Hyundai Rotem received AQAP-2110 (Allied Quality Assurance Publications-2110) certification from South Korea's Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ). The certification verifies that the company's quality management system complies with NATO standards for the design, development, production and quality assurance of defense equipment.
AQAP-2110 is one of NATO's key quality assurance standards applied in the procurement of military systems by member states and partner countries. The certification is widely regarded as an important qualification for defense companies seeking to participate in international tenders involving NATO nations.
The certification covers Hyundai Rotem's entire family of armored vehicle programs, including the K2 main battle tank, armored recovery vehicles, armored bridge-laying vehicles and combat engineering vehicles. The company said it is also considering expanding the certification to additional defense products in response to future market demand.
To obtain the certification, Hyundai Rotem comprehensively upgraded its quality management framework by establishing a dedicated quality assurance organization, strengthening operational procedures and management standards, and completing extensive training and consulting programs with external specialists before undergoing the final assessment.
Industry analysts said the certification provides Hyundai Rotem with an important competitive advantage by meeting quality requirements commonly requested in defense procurement projects involving NATO countries. It also offers internationally recognized verification of the company's manufacturing capabilities and quality control systems, which could enhance confidence among overseas customers.
The achievement comes as European countries continue increasing defense budgets in response to evolving security challenges, creating new opportunities for defense manufacturers capable of meeting international procurement standards.
Defense experts also expect the certification to support the broader expansion of South Korea's defense industry into Europe. As the South Korean government advances institutional efforts to facilitate participation in NATO's joint procurement framework, internationally certified domestic defense companies are expected to be better positioned to compete for overseas contracts.
Industry observers note that compliance with global quality standards and internationally recognized certifications is becoming an increasingly important factor in winning defense export contracts as competition intensifies in the global arms market.
Building on the AQAP-2110 certification, Hyundai Rotem plans to further promote the quality and reliability of its defense products not only in Europe but also in emerging markets across the Middle East and Latin America as it continues expanding its global defense business.
