K808 White Tiger
K808/806 White Tiger | |
---|---|
Armored Personnel Carrier | |
Place of origin | South Korea |
Service history | |
In service | 2017—present[1] |
Used by | See Operators |
Production history | |
Designer | Hyundai Rotem |
Designed | 2012—2016 |
Manufacturer | Hyundai Rotem |
Produced | 2016—present |
Variants | K806 6×6 K808 8×8 |
Specifications | |
Mass | K806 16 t K808 20 t |
Length | 6.6 m (22 ft) |
Width | 2.7 m (8.9 ft) |
Height | 2.1 m (6.9 ft) |
Crew | 2 + 9 or 10 passengers |
Armor | 14.5mm resistant (K808) / Frontal 12.7mm & side 7.62mm resistant (K806) |
Main armament | 40 mm grenade launcher |
Secondary armament | 7.62 mm machine gun |
Engine | Hyundai Motor Company D6HA diesel K808: 420 hp K806: 400 hp |
Suspension | Independent HSU |
Operational range | 700–800 km (430–500 mi) |
Maximum speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) (road) 10 km/h (6.2 mph; 5.4 kn) (water) |
The K808/806 White Tiger (
Hyundai Rotem, a (subsidiary of
Development
On 9 May 2016, the vehicles, officially designated as the K808 and K806, passed their final qualification tests, allowing for production to begin for deployment the next year; 600 units are to be produced by 2023. The wheeled vehicles were created to enhance the mobility and striking power of infantry over the slower
Hyundai Rotem expected an order by October 2016 for 16 low-rate initial production vehicles to be delivered to the ROKA for field trials, scheduled to last until late 2017. Production would then commence in 2018 at a rate of 100 per year. Out of 600 total wheeled armored vehicles (WAVs), there would be 100 K806 and 500 K808, designated K806 and K808 in ROKA service, respectively. Although the two variants share many performance characteristics, they have different concepts of operations: the 16-tonne (17.6-ton) K806 can perform rear-echelon roles such as facility defence and logistics convoy protection, while the 20-tonne (22-ton) K808 can conduct high-intensity combat operations alongside K1A1 and K2 main battle tanks.[8]
In September 2018, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced Hyundai Rotem would begin mass-producing the K806 and K808 vehicles later in the year.[9][10]
Design
The engine is located in the front on the left side, while the driver sits beside the engine to the right. The troop compartment is at the rear, accommodating 10 fully equipped soldiers plus 2 crew members. Troops enter and exit the vehicle via a rear automatic ramp in addition to 4 roof hatches.
Protection
The K808/806 has an all-welded armored hull that provides protection against small-arms fire and artillery shell splinters. It can be fitted with add-on armor for a higher level of protection. It is also equipped with the
Engine
Initially, the K808/806 Scorpion was fitted with a Hyundai diesel engine developing 380 hp, but later this engine was replaced with another Hyundai engine developing 420 hp with a 7-speed transmission and 2-mode secondary transmission. This engine is used in 8×8 configuration. The vehicle has an automatic drive-line management system, central tire inflation system, and run-flat tires. The Scorpion 8×8 is fully amphibious, propelled by two water jets,[11] but the Scorpion 6×6 is not.[1]
Weapons
The vehicle is provided with a
In June 2020,
Variants
- KW1 medical evacuation vehicle (MEV), based on the 6×6 chassis.
- KW1 Armored Combat Vehicle (ACV), based on the 6×6 chassis.
- KW1 Mobile Gun System (MGS), armed with 90 mm gun, based on the 6×6 chassis.
- KW2 8×8 armored personnel carrier (APC), based on the 6×6 chassis.[4]
- KW2 Jupiter 8×8 fire support vehicle, armed with a 120 mm gun, based on the 8×8 chassis.
- KW2 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, based on the 8×8 chassis.
- KW2 120 mm mortar carrier, based on the 8×8 chassis.
- KW2 Command Post, based on the 8×8 chassis.[1][16]
- KW2 Anti-Tank Vehicle, features Raybolt ATGMs, based on the 8×8 chassis.[17]
Operators
- Peru: On 2 May 2024, Hyundai Rotem announced that 30 K808s would be exported to Peru under a contract worth $USD60 million.[18]
- South Korea: In use by the South Korean Army.[19]
See also
Comparable vehicles
- Stryker – (United States, Canada)
- LAV AFV/LAV-25– (Canada)
- ASLAV – (Australia)
- Boxer – (Germany, Netherlands)
- Freccia IFV – (Italy)
- BTR-90 – (Russia)
- VPK-7829 Bumerang – (Russia)
- ZBL-08 – (China)
- CM-32– (Taiwan)
- Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier – (Japan)
- Type 16 maneuver combat vehicle– (Japan)
- Patria AMV – (Finland)
- BTR-4 – (Ukraine)
- Saur 2 – (Romania)
- VBCI– (France)
- KTO Rosomak – (Poland)
- FNSS Pars – (Turkey)
- MOWAG Piranha– (Switzerland)
- Terrex ICV – (Singapore)
References
- ^ a b c d e Hyundai Rotem advances armoured armada - Shephardmedia.com, 22 October 2015
- ^ "Republic of Korea Army designates new vehicle names". 10 June 2022.
- ^ "South Korean army will deploy 600 new wheeled vehicles from 2016". Army Recognition.
- ^ a b "Hyundai Rotem KW1 Scorpion 6x6 Wheeled APC".
- ^ "KW1 Scorpion". deagel.
- ^ "S. Korea develops wheeled armored combat vehicles for infantry troops". Yonhap News Agency. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ "South Korea Defense Industry has developed two new types of wheeled armoured vehicles". Army Recognition. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
- ^ Jane's. 9 September 2016. Archived from the originalon 10 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ Dominguez, Gabriel (11 September 2018). "South Korea to begin mass-producing K806, K808 armoured combat vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
- ^ South Korea: K808 8x8 armored personnel carrier to be mass produced from late 2018. Army Recognition. 10 September 2018.
- ^ a b c "Rotem KW1 Scorpion Armored personnel carrier". military-today.com/.
- ^ S. Korea's military to deploy new wheeled anti-aircraft system. The Korea Herald. 27 June 2020.
- ^ South Korea signs contract to acquire new 30mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Wheeled Vehicle Systems from Hanwha Defense. Army Recognition. 28 June 2020.
- ^ "South Korea deploys new SPAAG system". Janes Information Services. 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021.
- ^ South Korea Army deploys new KW2 30mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Wheeled Vehicle System. Army Recognition. 21 December 2021.
- ^ S. Korea completes development of wheel-type command post vehicle. Aju Business Daily. 25 January 2021.
- ^ Hyundai Rotem Tank Killer 8X8 WAV for ROK Army - Armyrecognition.com, 19 October 2017
- ^ "Hyundai Rotem to export armored vehicles to Peru". koreaherald.com. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "South Korea fields new Command Post Vehicles". asianmilitaryreview.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
External links
Media related to K808 White Tiger at Wikimedia Commons