[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Hyundai Rotem announced on the 29th that it has signed a contract with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to deliver the third batch of wheeled armored vehicles. The contract amount is approximately 407.7 billion KRW.
Through this contract, Hyundai Rotem will supply two models of wheeled armored vehicles, the K806 and K808, to DAPA by 2023. Including the initial production worth 26.9 billion KRW and the second production worth 412.9 billion KRW, a total of 847.5 billion KRW worth of wheeled armored vehicles will be produced and delivered through the third production phase.
Previously, Hyundai Rotem secured the initial production order for wheeled armored vehicles in 2016 and completed delivery in 2018. The second production order, secured in 2017, is scheduled to be fully delivered by this year.
The wheeled armored vehicle is a weapon system introduced to enhance mobility, survivability, and mission capability in response to the expansion of infantry units' responsibility areas. The K806 is a 6x6 model designed for rear-area mobile strike and reconnaissance missions, while the K808, an 8x8 model, performs rapid deployment and reconnaissance missions in front-line areas.
Hyundai Rotem’s wheeled armored vehicles ensure protection against armor-piercing rounds and anti-personnel mines to improve survivability. They are equipped with heating and cooling systems capable of operating in extreme cold and heat. Independent suspension is applied to each wheel, providing excellent ride comfort even on rough terrain, and the vehicles can travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
In particular, the K808 features run-flat tires that allow driving even when punctured, a Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) that automatically adjusts tire pressure according to road conditions, and a water propulsion device for river crossing operations.
The wheeled armored vehicle platform can be diversified into various series vehicles depending on the intended use. In fact, Hyundai Rotem won the contract for the wheeled command vehicle system development project in 2016 and is expected to complete development this year.
The wheeled command vehicle is equipped with network-based combat command system operation capabilities, enabling rapid and efficient unit command. Hyundai Rotem has successfully completed system development and plans to pursue orders for mass production in the future.
Hyundai Rotem has been striving to improve the quality of wheeled armored vehicles up to the third production phase. In 2018, Hyundai Rotem personnel participated in the "Wheeled Armored Vehicle Field Quality Improvement Council," organized by the Defense Technology Quality Institute, sharing vehicle operation data to identify areas for improvement.
A Hyundai Rotem official stated, "We have delivered the initial production batch of wheeled armored vehicles on schedule and are steadily delivering the second batch. We will leverage the experience and know-how accumulated so far to deliver high-quality vehicles for the third production batch as well."
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