The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the overhaul will run from 2028 through 2046 and cover all of the Army’s several hundred K2 tanks. The changes are intended to improve the tanks’ survivability and close-range combat capability as North Korea expands its use of unmanned systems. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeatedly called for an expansion of the country's drone capabilities. Kim called for the development and production of more suicide drones for tactical infantry and special operations units, as well as reconnaissance and attack missions. The development comes as North Korea accelerates its naval modernization under Kim, including new destroyer construction and ship-to-ship missile testing.