Celebrating the 50th anniversary of its military track shoe business, the company is ‘advancing’ towards the European defense industry market

■ 16 types of military tracks were displayed, including Korean-type track shoes for K2 tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, as well as American-type, and Russian-type track shoes.

■ As the only company in the world with independent design and development capabilities for Korean-type, American-type, and Russian-type military track shoes, LS Mtron is now seeking to enter the European market.

■ CEO Shin Chai-ho said, “Celebrating its 50th anniversary, LS Mtron’s track shoe division will export to more countries in the European market.”

LS Mtron (CEO Shin Chai-ho), a company specializing in industrial machinery and high-tech parts under LS Group, announced on the 24th its participation in Eurosatory 2024, the world's largest defense industry exhibition.

The Eurosatory exhibition, which has been held biennially since 1967, ran from the 17th to the 21st at the Nord Villepinte exhibition hall in Paris, France. This year, over 2,000 companies from 62 countries participated in the exhibition, with the Korean companies LS Mtron, Hanwha Aerospace, and Hyundai Rotem hosting their own booths.

LS Mtron exhibited a total of 16 types of products, including the Korean-type track shoes mounted on K2 main battle tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, American-type (M1, M113, M109) tracks, and Russian-type (T-72, T-90, BMP-2) track shoes. The company consulted with leading defense companies from European countries, including the Czech Republic and Denmark, on offers, and held discussions related to India's new combat vehicle development project.

Since entering the military track shoe business in 1974, LS Mtron has been supplying track shoes for main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and self-propelled howitzers to the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea for 50 years. All the military combat vehicles, such as K2 main battle tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers, produced by Korean defense companies are equipped with LS Mtron track shoe shoes, except for a few export models. Now, following the recent signing of export contracts for Korean weapons systems with a number of European countries, including Poland, LS Mtron's military track shoe business is also showing growth.

LS Mtron is the only company in the world that possesses independent design and development capabilities for Korean-type, American-type, and Russian-type military track shoes. Based on these capabilities, the company can produce customized military track shoes for each country. LS Mtron exports military track shoes to more than 40 countries and is gradually expanding its export targets. The company plans to target the European defense industry market in earnest through this Eurosatory exhibition.

“LS Mtron’s military track shoe business celebrates its 50th anniversary this year," said Shin Chai-ho, CEO of LS Mtron. “Based on the customized military track shoe design and production capabilities we have accumulated over a long period of time, as well as our high quality and stable supply chain, the company plans to export to more countries in the European market.” 

Meanwhile, last January, LS Mtron signed an investment agreement to build a new military track shoe factory with Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. This move is part of a strategy to increase productivity by separating the defense industry from the existing Jeonju plant and to quickly respond to growing demand in the defense industry.  

[Photo 1] LS Mtron’s booth at Eurosatory 2024

[Photo 2] LS Mtron’s booth at Eurosatory 2024