CHANGWON — The engineer who localized the automatic transmission — the "heart" of the K2 tank and K9 self-propelled howitzer — has received a Presidential Citation.
SNT Dynamics said on the 9th that Kim Sang-kyung, chief researcher at its technology research institute (director of the institute and head of Development Center 1), received the Presidential Citation for contributions to parts localization at the second Defense Industry Day ceremony. He was recognized for independently developing core technologies for automatic transmissions for tracked vehicles, contributing to securing an unrivaled competitive edge for Korea's defense industry.
Kim earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the graduate school of Changwon National University and joined the company in 2003. Over the following 24 years at the technology research institute, he worked to strengthen national self-defense and advance the defense industry's technological competitiveness through the independent development of core automatic transmission technologies for tracked vehicles and parts localization.
He earned particular recognition for playing a key role in the independent development of the 1,700-horsepower automatic transmission for the K2 tank and the localization of the automatic transmission for the K9 self-propelled howitzer, contributing to Korea's pursuit of an unrivaled technological edge in defense. He was also highly credited for contributing to national economic development through technology achievements including the 200 million euro export of the 1,700-horsepower automatic transmission to Türkiye and its application to the fourth production run of the K2 tank.
Kim is also focusing on research and development of core technologies for next-generation mobility equipment, including electrification, hybrid systems, and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technologies. He is actively contributing to the government's policy of strengthening Korea's technology-cooperation-based defense export structure, which encompasses finished-product mass production supply and overseas maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).
"This is a proud achievement in which the government has recognized the hard work of all SNT Dynamics researchers who have dedicated themselves to research and development of core technologies in the mobility equipment field," Kim said. "Going forward, I will devote myself further to research and development of unrivaled core technologies for next-generation weapons systems so that I can contribute to the sustainable development of Korea's defense industry."
