South Korea has officially unveiled the new KAAV-II amphibious assault vehicle, a project set to replace the current fleet of South Korean Navy amphibious armored vehicles based on the veteran American AAV-7.
According to the website Defence Blog, the new armored vehicle is part of a program valued at approximately US$1.78 billion led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Mass production is expected to begin in 2029.
The Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicle II (KAAV-II), developed by Hanwha Aerospace, was designed for modern amphibious operations and is expected to incorporate technologies also planned for the future South Korean Army infantry fighting vehicle K-NIFV.
Earlier versions of the project indicated capacity for three crew members and up to 21 marines, as well as an estimated maximum speed of around 70 km/h on land and 25 km/h in water. To navigate in water, the vehicle uses waterjet propulsion.
The new platform will replace around 170 KAAV-7A1 vehicles, local versions of the American AAV-7, originally created in the 1970s to transport troops from ship to shore during amphibious landings.
The unveiling of the model comes amid growing regional concern over amphibious operations and island warfare, especially in light of tensions involving North Korea and maritime disputes in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Photo: Reproduction / Defence Blog. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
