South Korea announces new Hyundai combat vehicles

SEOUL, June 7 (UPI) -- South Korean manufacturer Hyundai has developed wheeled armored combat vehicles as part of a project by the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

The vehicles are the 8x8 K808 and K806. The K808 is designed for rapid troop deployment and reconnaissance missions in front-line areas. The K806 is intended for use in mobile strike and reconnaissance missions in the rear.

"The new wheeled armored vehicles, equipped with cutting-edge technologies, can move swiftly on the ground as well as cross water obstacles, carry heavy firepower and protect the troops inside from enemy machine gun attacks that will enormously increase infantry units' operability," DAPA said in a news statement.

Added Park Jin, a DAPA official in charge of combat vehicles: "The success of the project has allowed the military to field a new weapon system that could carry out various operations in city and rear areas and meet the challenges of future battlefields like United Nations peacekeeping missions. This will dramatically contribute to boosting our military's strength."

The vehicles, which passed final qualification testing, could later be adapted to carry 30 millimeter anti-aircraft guns and be used as wheeled combat command centers.