K21 IFV: South Korea’s Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The K21 is Hanwha Aerospace’s 25-ton amphibious tracked IFV armed with a 40mm Bofors L/70 cannon. Ceramic-composite armor and river-crossing capability support South Korea’s northern front doctrine.
Why the 40mm Cannon Matters
At 40mm, the K21 outguns Bradley (25mm) and Puma (30mm), enabling engagement of medium-armored vehicles as well as light targets from the same platform.
Amphibious Capability
At 25 tons, the K21 can ford rivers and lakes at 6 km/h without additional equipment. The Han and Imjin rivers along South Korea’s northern front were the design reference scenarios.
Teknik Özellikler
| Özellik | Değer |
|---|---|
| Type | Amphibious tracked IFV |
| Main Weapon | 40mm Bofors L/70 |
| ATGM | Spike / Polyphem integration |
| Crew | 3 + 9 infantry |
| Combat Weight | 25 tons |
| Land Speed | 70 km/h |
| Water Speed | 6 km/h |
| Armor | Ceramic composite modular |
Kullanıcı Ülkeler
| Ülke | Detay |
|---|---|
| South Korea | Standard IFV; integrated with K2 and K9 |
Türk Muadili
Turkey’s FNSS Kaplan-30 competes in the same class with a 30mm Mk44. The K21’s caliber and amphibious advantage stand out; Kaplan counters with an established export track record.
