For many Russians, KIA Motors is associated with Korean passenger cars. But the Seoul-based company produces not only the best-seller of the Russian car market - budget cars KIA Rio, but also automotive equipment for the armed forces. In addition to trucks and army SUVs, the South Korean automaker produces Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) light military armored vehicles.
Features of the KLTV Light Tactical Vehicle
The new Korean armored car Kia Light Tactical Vehicle is an initiative development of the engineers of the military department of KIA Motors. During the development process, the company received funding from the South Korean Ministry of Defense. The new all-wheel drive tactical vehicle was originally developed to meet the needs of the ROK and is being considered as a replacement for the existing fleet of Kia KM420 light military off-road vehicles and Kia KM450 light utility truck. Among other things, KLTV was originally developed for export sales.
KIA Motors, working on a new project, focused on the creation of light tactical vehicles with high mobility and high survivability. The combination of these qualities is best suited for conducting effective tactical operations and responds to the changed nature of combat operations. When creating a new armored car, Korean designers focused on their technical groundwork and the accumulated experience of using commercial and military vehicles in the South Korean army.
The new Korean lightweight tactical off-road vehicle is built on an all-wheel drive chassis and has a modular design, which makes it easy to transform the vehicle to solve various tasks. The car is presented in several basic modifications: a multi-purpose vehicle, an armored reconnaissance vehicle, a command vehicle, a vehicle with communications equipment, and a pickup truck. Reconnaissance armored vehicles have a hatch in the roof of the hull, designed to accommodate various weapons with a shield to protect the shooter. Various machine guns can be installed on the roof: 7, 62 or 12, 7 mm caliber, 40-mm automatic grenade launchers or anti-tank missile launchers. Also, at the request of the customer, remotely controlled combat modules can be installed on the armored vehicle.
The car is based on two chassis. Standard - up to 4900 mm long and with an extended wheelbase - up to 6050 mm. Maximum vehicle width - 2195 mm, height - from 1980 to 2195 mm (depending on modification). At the same time, the total combat weight of the vehicle, depending on the wheelbase used, ranges from 5, 7 to 7 tons. Turning radius - 7, 8 meters. Armored and armed variants are available. In the basic modification on a standard chassis, the car can accommodate up to four people - the driver and three passengers. A vehicle with an increased wheelbase can be used to transport 8 military personnel, as well as transport various military equipment and property.
Outwardly, the new Korean armored car resembles the famous American Humvee or the more modern JLTV single light combat vehicle, as well as the Italian IVECO armored car. The armored version of the vehicle can be easily distinguished by a two-piece windshield (bulletproof glass is used) and hinged body armor panels on the sides of the body. According to the manufacturer, the armored versions of the Kia Light Tactical Vehicle provide the crew with protection from small arms fire, as well as from artillery shell fragments. Combined car booking - composite materials and standard metal sheets. The manufacturer's website states that the armored reconnaissance vehicle is certified according to STANAG 4569 level 2 and 3. Such a booking provides all-round protection against bullets of caliber 7, 62x39 mm with an armor-piercing core at a distance of 30 meters (7, 62x51 mm for "level 3"). Also, this level of booking protects the crew from fragments and the damaging effect of a 155-mm projectile in an explosion at a distance of 80 and 60 meters for the STANAG 4569 level 2 and STANAG 4569 level 3 standards, respectively. The same standards regulate protection against detonation on a high-explosive anti-tank mine with an explosive mass of 6 and 8 kg, respectively.
Filling of light tactical vehicles KLTV
The heart of all KLTV vehicles is a highly efficient diesel engine that develops a maximum power of 225 hp. The engine is environmentally friendly and meets the Euro-5 standard. The motor delivers a maximum torque of 510 Nm at 1750 rpm. The power plant is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The use of a multi-speed transmission ensures high fuel economy and a smooth ride. The vehicle's power reserve is estimated at 640 km. The maximum speed when driving on the highway is up to 130 km / h.
All Kia Light Tactical Vehicles have received four-wheel drive, which is especially important for military vehicles faced with off-road operations. All cars received independent suspension, which also increases comfort from driving on rough terrain and the vehicle's cross-country ability, ensuring constant grip of the wheels with the road. The use of a four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) improves driving in difficult conditions and shortens stopping distances. The ground clearance is 420 mm. The car is able to overcome inclines up to 60 degrees, the permissible roll when driving on a slope is up to 40 degrees, without preparation the car can overcome fords up to 0.76 m deep.
Cars are equipped with tires of dimension 315 / 85R16. All machines received a centralized tire pressure control system (CTIS), which allows you to adjust the tire pressure directly from the cab, which allows you to change the operating pressure depending on the use on hard or soft soils, as well as pump up wheels that have lost their tightness. In addition, the manufacturer claims that the design of the wheels allows you to continue moving even after being pierced by bullets or shrapnel. If the tire is damaged, the vehicle will travel at least 48 kilometers.
All light tactical vehicles Kia Light Tactical Vehicle are equipped with air conditioning and a rear view camera. Optionally, the vehicles can be equipped with a winch and smoke grenade launchers (4 launchers each at the corners of the roof from the front side).
Export prospects of the armored car Kia Light Tactical Vehicle
At the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Industry Exhibition (ADEX-2019), held from October 15 to 20, South Korean enterprises demonstrated not only a new version of the K2 main battle tank and K21 infantry fighting vehicles of their own production, but also simpler examples of modern wheeled armored vehicles. Among the vehicles shown at the exhibition was a family of KLTV light armored vehicles with a 4x4 wheel arrangement, mass-produced since 2016. Among the samples presented at the exposition were: a communication machine; multipurpose vehicle K153, presented in two versions; a variant of the K151 self-propelled ATGM, armed with a South Korean-made Hyeongung (Raybolt) missile system; military pickup.
Since 2016, the KLTV light armored car has been in service with the South Korean army. It is known that in 2017, the military began to receive an armored car from Mali, and representatives of the Philippines and Mongolia are also showing interest in this family of light armored vehicles. It is known that the Philippine military received at least three Korean armored vehicles by 2019 for comprehensive tests. At the same time, Manila and the Philippines are traditionally a large sales market for military vehicles by KIA Motors. The fact that armored vehicles are also offered in Mongolia is known from the brochure with the technical characteristics of the car in Mongolian that appeared on the network; news about this appeared in early 2019.
The international debut of the Korean tactical vehicle took place back in 2015 at the IDEX 2015 in Abu Dhabi. In 2018, the KLTV armored car was demonstrated at an exhibition in Karachi (Pakistan), it is reported that the interest of the Pakistani military in this vehicle is quite high. One of the important advantages of a Korean light armored vehicle with a 4x4 wheel arrangement is an extremely attractive price. Presenting the new product, representatives of KIA Motors announced an extremely low cost for cars of this class - from 200 thousand dollars for a car in the basic version.
The equipment presented at the ADEX-2019 exhibition testifies to a serious growth in the capabilities of the South Korean military-industrial complex, which is starting to play an increasing role in the international arms market. The current state of the South Korean military-industrial complex allows the country to produce the entire gamut of armored vehicles: from main battle tanks and tracked infantry fighting vehicles to light tactical wheeled armored vehicles, which will definitely have buyers on the international market.
