The Republic of Korea Army (RoKA) has deployed a new 8×8 Command Post Vehicle (CPV) for the first time, the Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a press release on 12 December.
According to DAPA, the CPV is being used by the RoKA’s 25th Infantry Division in Yangju. It added that the CPV is intended to replace the RoKA’s current static tent-type field command posts that require a lengthy set-up and teardown process, and are vulnerable to firearm, artillery, and chemical, biological, and radiological attacks.
DAPA signed contracts worth KRW700 billion (USD530 million) in June 2023 and KRW55.3 billion in June 2022 with Hyundai Rotem to procure an undisclosed number of CPVs.
According to local media, South Korea plans to deploy nearly 600 vehicles by 2029 to the RoKA and RoK Marine Corps units that are operating command post tents.
DAPA earlier awarded a contract worth ₩700 billion with local defence and engineering prime Hyundai Rotem for the serial manufacture of a second tranche of CPVs in June.
“During this second mass production, we plan to secure a highly reliable weapon system by applying the latest technology…such as operator safety and convenience as well as interconnectivity with other weapon systems,” said DAPA, noting the CPV will be initially used by the RoKA to support army experimentation in battlefield artificial intelligence (AI), manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), as well as other emerging operational concepts.
According to DAPA, the CPV is equipped with indigenously developed command-and-control (C2) systems such as the Army Tactical Command and Control Information System (ATCCIS) and the Battalion Battle Command System (B2CS).
The vehicle is operated by a two-person crew with accommodation for up to eight additional personnel in the protected rear cabin, which is equipped with a positive pressure system to protect its occupants against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) agents.
The CPV is derived from the in-service K808 ‘Baekho’ 8×8 wheel armoured vehicle (WAV) platform also built by Hyundai Rotem.
The first tranche of CPVs was ordered under an earlier ₩55.3 billion contract in June 2022.
by Jr Ng
