South Korean Army to Test Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The South Korean Army has set up an action plan to trial the Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) developed by Hanwha Defense.

The tracked combat vehicle will return home in March after its successful tests and evaluations during 2021 in Australia as one of the two final candidates for LAND 400 Phase 3.

As per an official company statement, a Redback vehicle is to be handed over in April to an armored cavalry unit of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army for two months of trials aimed at reviewing the Redback’s advanced technologies and operational capabilities.

The trials will be focused on the Redback’s mobility, operability and maintainability, as the futuristic tracked IFV has successfully navigated the Risk Mitigation Activity tests and evaluations conducted by the Australian Defense Force from February to October 2021.

For mobility tests, the vehicle is set to be assessed on paved and unpaved roads with various driving skills, including pivot, obstacle clearance and night maneuvering with situational awareness equipment.

Operability trials will include evaluation of situational awareness cameras, operation during hard barking, load space and the ergonomics of various seating configurations. Tactical operations of the auxiliary power unit and turret systems are also to be tested. To review the Redback’s operational sustainability, the vehicle will also be assessed in various recovery situations.

During trials, the Redback is also scheduled to demonstrate its Offboard Health and Usage Management System (HUMS), which monitors and diagnoses component faults in their early stages.

The Redback is a fifth-generation IFV featuring composite rubber tracks and an In-arm suspension units (ISU). The rubber tracks reduce noise and vibration while offering good ride quality for its crew and the soldiers it protects. The advanced ISU allows more space for add-on armour to mitigate blast underneath.

The Redback is also equipped with Iron Vision sensor system, which allows the crew to see through the vehicle’s armor by projecting the image outside the vehicle onto their helmet-mounted displays, and the Iron Fist active protection system.