[Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club] Wheeled Armored Vehicles Dominate the Defense Market

Rapid Deployment on Asphalt Replaces Rugged Terrain
Armored Vehicle Protection Significantly Enhanced for Soldier Safety

In the past, most armored vehicles were tracked vehicles. This was because soldiers needed to be transported across rugged mountainous terrain or rough ground. However, as cities developed, the situation changed. On asphalt, where urban warfare takes place, wheeled armored vehicles, which have wheels like regular cars, are more suitable than tracked vehicles. The vehicles have also become heavier. This is because anti-tank missile technology targeting armored vehicles has advanced, and in order to protect soldiers, the defensive capabilities of the vehicles have been enhanced.

According to the British military intelligence company Jane's Yearbook, the market for 30-ton-class wheeled armored vehicles is expected to grow from $1.631 billion in 2020 to $7.28 billion in 2028, with an average annual growth rate of 22%. In contrast, the demand for tracked armored vehicles has declined. This is the reason why the overall armored vehicle market is expected to shrink by 6% by 2028. Hyundai Rotem has also begun developing 30-ton-class wheeled armored vehicles for this reason.

Countries around the world are moving quickly. Notable examples include Germany's Boxer (41 tons), Israel's Eitan (35 tons), the latest model of Finland's Patria AMV series (32 tons), and Russia's Boomerang (34 tons). As the transition to wheeled armored vehicles has taken place, the time required to deploy them to the battlefield has also decreased. In the past, transporting tracked armored vehicles over long distances required a separate transport trailer. In contrast, wheeled self-propelled artillery can travel hundreds of kilometers on its own. As a result, they can be deployed to the battlefield more quickly and can also withdraw from the battlefield more easily. Loading them onto transport aircraft is also relatively convenient.

The United States has already deployed next-generation wheeled armored vehicles. BAE Systems is supplying 22 next-generation Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV) to the US Marine Corps. The contract in 2020 alone was worth $184 million (approximately 200.9 billion won). Among the 8-wheeled armored vehicles in the US military, it is the largest. It carries a crew of 3 and 13 marines. The weight has also increased. At 30 tons, it is heavier than the previously operated LAV-25 (12.8 tons) of the Marine Corps. This means that both armor and armament have been strengthened. It provides fragment protection armor. Despite the increased weight, its speed is not inferior compared to the previous model. It is equipped with a 690-horsepower diesel engine, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 105 km/h on land and 6 knots (11 km/h) at sea.

In 2022, Israel introduced the Eitan wheeled armored vehicle (APC) developed by Oshkosh Defense, a US defense company. The Eitan was developed to replace the M113 tracked armored vehicles introduced by the Israeli Army in the 1970s. A prototype was produced in October 2015 and was unveiled to the public in August of the following year. It is equipped with a remote-controlled turret capable of firing a 30mm autocannon and Spike-MR anti-tank missiles. In addition to the commander, driver, and RCWS operator, the Eitan can carry 9 soldiers. It is powered by a 750-horsepower turbocharged diesel engine from Germany's MTU, and the automatic transmission is made by the American company Allison. The maximum driving speed is 90 km/h, and the maximum range is 1,000 km.

Ukraine has decided to jointly purchase CV90 infantry fighting vehicles with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Sweden. The CV90 has been fitted with an additional 5 tons of armor. As a result, it can withstand 30mm armor-piercing rounds from all directions. Its defense against anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices has also been enhanced. Ukraine plans to introduce 1,000 CV90 series armored vehicles in the future. Sweden also plans to upgrade the CV90. The Israeli-made active protection system "Iron Fist" is also scheduled to be installed.

Poland's new infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the Borsuk, also weighs well over 40 tons. However, after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, it has become difficult for the Polish military to produce as many armored vehicles as desired, so the country is considering the introduction or joint development of the "K-combat armored vehicle." In June 2022, during a meeting of the Polish Armed Forces command attended by President Andrzej Duda, a government official stated, "We (the Polish military) will purchase proven IFVs (infantry fighting vehicles) from Korea, among other equipment." The fact that such remarks were made even though no formal contract had been signed with a domestic defense company was considered "unusual."