Fun fact to amuse your friends with. I worked for General Dynamics. GD worked with Hyundai to build the M1K1 Korean tank. It was based on the American M1A1. Korea bribed, coerced and stole the technical data package. They then offered spare parts to GD’s other clients at a cut-rate. The parts were pin for pin compatible with GD’s parts.
If Turkey, Japan or anybody else involved thinks they’ll have a say in what Korea does with the design, they’re mistaken. Also, if Turkey wants to sell the tank to people the Japanese don’t want it sold to, I guarantee that Mitsubishi engine and transmission will be resourced in Korea.
On the other hand, the utility of a tank may be coming to an end. They represent a huge investment with a declining ability to survive on the battlefield. The tactics with which they’re used will become increasingly important to their survival on the battlefield. The Russians fighting in Chechnya lost an incredible number of tanks when they took them into cities, for example.
As long as there is infantry there will be tanks.
I was recently asked by a US company to help them enter the S. Korean market. I have been doing business there for thirty years and they wanted some pointers. This is a family run Christian company. While waiting to meet the owner I noticed that there was a big wall poster with their “Code of Conduct” signed by him and all the top management. When we got into the meeting I asked if he really meant his CoC commitment. He got all puffed up and was offended that I would question his moral fiber. I then asked if he was worried about federal laws regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He said “No” because they would never do business that way. I then asked if he would be willing to pay an expedite fee to SK customs to get his shipments moving. The answer was “NO!”. I told him he could not do business in SK and sent him a large bill for the advice.
SK is amazingly corrupt. People complain about the Chinese but at least they let you know what it going to cost to do business there up front.