ROK Army Receives First Batch of Improved, Mass-Produced Armored Vehicles

The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it delivered the first mass-produced K242, K281 and K288 mortar armored vehicles to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army on December 14.

This project is planned until 2027, and about 100 billion won is invested, DAPA said in a release today.

The armored vehicles have had many difficulties in operating together with other weapon systems such as tanks and helicopters due to low engine output, frequent breakdowns of transmissions, and discontinued problems, and have also suffered continuous difficulties in terms of logistical support. Through this project, it was possible to improve mobility, increase user convenience, and solve discontinued problems by replacing engines with increased output and fully automatic transmissions.

“Through this performance improvement project, it served as an opportunity to maximize the performance of the K242, K281 and K288 armored vehicles, as well as contributing to operational maintenance by increasing user convenience for our soldiers,” a DAPA official said.

In addition, the DAPA supervised and carried out the depot maintenance project, minimizing operational gaps in field units, reducing costs, and shortening schedules.