South Korea’s defense industry has seen remarkable progress in recent years. With a significant increase in weapons exports to Europe and a pivotal role in the Russo-Ukraine conflict, it has grown to become an essential contributor to Western military arsenals. Various weapons systems, ranging from artillery and rockets to tanks, fighter jets, and ammunition, have been in high demand. However, a recent incident has caused a dent in the morale and reputation of the South Korean defense sector.
On September 26, off the coast near Pohang City in North Gyeongsang Province, an amphibious assault vehicle sank during a marine performance test. The two crew members onboard were rescued but unfortunately succumbed to their injuries at a hospital. The vehicle in question was the new KAAV-2, South Korea’s advanced high-speed amphibious assault vehicle, which was purported to rival China’s ZBD-05 amphibious armored fighting vehicle series.
The Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration later clarified that the KAAV-2 experienced a flooding incident during the test, which took place approximately 1 km off the Pohang coast. The primary aim of the trial was to assess its speed and stability on water.
After the incident, both crew members were initially unaccounted for. Coordinated search and rescue operations were launched involving the South Korean navy, maritime police, and firefighting units. After several hours, divers managed to retrieve the crew from the seabed, who were then rushed to the hospital. Despite rescue efforts, both members were declared deceased.
The KAAV-2, developed by Hanwha Defense, resembles the discontinued U.S. “Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle” (EFV). The latter claimed a water speed of up to 25 knots or approximately 46 km/h, which is two to three times faster than traditional amphibious vehicles. However, the U.S. military decided to discontinue the EFV program in 2011 due to budgetary constraints and shifting requirements.
In contrast, China’s successful development and deployment of the ZBD-05 series have made it a dominant player in the high-speed amphibious vehicle category. The ZBD-05 has not only been adopted by China’s military but also exported to countries like Venezuela and Thailand. South Korea’s development of the KAAV-2 was seen as a direct competitor to the ZBD-05, with clear intentions of capturing a share of the global market, especially as it incorporated designs reminiscent of the EFV.
Publicly available data suggests that the KAAV-2 integrated many design aspects from the EFV, notably adopting the same power diesel engine boasting 2700 horsepower. Yet, the KAAV-2’s water speed only reaches 20 km/h, which is considerably slower than its Chinese and former American counterparts.
One probable reason for this reduced speed is the ambitious upgrades made by South Korean designers. Compared to the EFV, the KAAV-2 had enhanced firepower, an increased crew capacity, larger turret size, and modular armor. This additional weight might have adversely affected the vehicle’s power-to-weight ratio and hence its maximum water speed.
Furthermore, the incident has brought to light potential design flaws. The vehicle’s previously stated water speed at its unveiling in 2019 was 30 km/h, but recent media reports post-accident have downgraded it to 20 km/h. The sinking of the KAAV-2 also raised concerns about its fundamental waterproofing capabilities.
This mishap is expected to delay the development timeline for the KAAV-2. With only two prototypes, one for land and the other for marine tests, the loss of the marine test vehicle means a new prototype will need to be manufactured. Initially set for mass production by 2029, this setback will likely push the date further.
Source: Wang Yanan