ADEX 2019: Kia Motors unveils new 2.5- and 5-tonne trucks

Sunil Nair

South Korean company Kia Motors Corporation has unveiled 2.5- and 5-tonne trucks to compete in tenders aimed at replacing the Republic of Korea Army’s (RoKA’s) in-service KM250 and KM500 vehicles, respectively.

Kia Motors displayed its new 5-tonne cargo Army Tiger truck at the ADEX 2019 exhibition. (IHS Markit/Sunil Nair )

The new vehicles, both of which were displayed at the 2019 Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), have a cab-over-engine (COE) configuration; unlike the KM250 and KM500 trucks, both of which are 6×6 and have a bonneted cab.

The Hyundai Wia RWS, which was shown mounted on the roof of the MTV’s cab, features a K6 12.6 mm machine gun, a daylight camera, a thermal camera, and a laser rangefinder. (IHS Markit/Sunil Nair )

Kia Motors’ new 5-tonne 6×6 truck, which is called the Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV), has an armoured cabin and armour protected side walls in the rear cargo area. According to Yonki Chae from the special-vehicle segment of Kia Motors, the cab has STANAG 4569 Level 2 armour protection and is powered by the same 7-litre diesel engine – generating 325 hp – that powers Hyundai Motors’ recently launched 5.5-tonne Pavise commercial truck.

Mounted on the roof of the MTV’s cab is the Hyundai Wia remote weapon station, which is equipped with a K6 12.7 mm machine gun and a sensor unit comprising a daylight camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder.

Kia Motors displayed its new 2.5 tonne, 4×4 cargo truck at the ADEX 2019 exhibition. (IHS Markit/Sunil Nair )