NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Serial production of the Hanwha Defense Systems K21/K300 series Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is ongoing for procurement by the ROK Army.
Doosan DST launched serial production of the K21/K300 series in 2008, with the first units being delivered into active service with the ROK Army early the following year. The K21 series is intended to provide the Army with a thoroughly modern successor to its K200 series of IFVs. The Army currently deploys its K21 vehicles in a spearhead role at the core of its mechanized force structure, supplementing, but not yet superseding, its vast K200 inventories.
As additional K21 vehicles enter active service, the ROK Army will be able to retire increasing quantities of its aging K200 IFV fleet. But despite the scale and pace of K21 procurement, the K200 series will not be completely retired from its prominent role in the Army's force structure for many years.
The ROK Army is overdue to initiate an extensive retrofit and modernization of its K200 stocks. However, the urgency of pursuing such a program has been blunted somewhat by K21 procurement.
If the ROK Ministry of National Defense does not find export customers for soon-to-be-surplus K200 vehicle stocks, it is likely that Hanwha Defense Systems will focus its efforts on fulfilling only those upgrade requirements that are strictly necessary for the continued operation and combat readiness of the Army's remaining K200 fleet.
Although the K21/K300 series of vehicles has yet to secure any export contracts, Hanwha Defense Systems is actively marketing the design on the international market and maintains high expectations for its export potential.
