The K21 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, produced by Hanwha Aerospace, is highly likely to be exported to Latvia this year.
Hanwha Aerospace is currently participating in the Latvian Army’s armored vehicle replacement project with its K-21 Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The project involves about 100 units and is valued at 4 trillion won.
The candidates for this project include Hanwha Aerospace’s K-21, the ASCOD developed jointly by Austria and Spain, and Turkey’s Tulpar.
The K-21 armored vehicle is known for its operational experience and firepower. Notably, it demonstrated its firing capabilities during recent joint military exercises with the United States, moving in real maneuvers. Since its mass production started in 2009, over 460 units have been operated by the Army. The K21 boasts a high hit rate in combined training due to its automated fire control system.
It is equipped with a 40 mm cannon that, when loaded with Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabots (APFSDS), can penetrate steel plates 100 to 130 mm thick from distances over 1 km. Furthermore, it has a 750 horsepower engine, allowing it to move at up to 70 kph on flat terrain and 40 kph on rough terrain. It also features amphibious capabilities, using side pontoons and a frontal wave deflector to travel at 6 kph in water.
Hanwha Aerospace underwent mobility and firepower evaluations locally for three weeks from October last year and is reported to have received the highest score. Competing products that also utilize a 30 mm main gun have been judged inferior in firepower and are 30-40% cheaper, making the K-21 the anticipated choice.
Moreover, it can be modified in various forms to meet the specific requirements of the importing country. Recently, at a defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Hanwha Aerospace unveiled a modified version of its surface-to-surface missile, originally an air-to-surface missile, for armored vehicle applications.
With the success of the Redback in Australia’s next-generation armored vehicle project, Hanwha Aerospace is determined to win this bid based on its previous achievements.