Photo of new Hyundai Rotem 8X8 «Yong» armored personnel carrier of South Korean army

The 8×8 Wheeled Armored Vehicle is an infantry combat vehicle that is fitted with a 420hp diesel engine developed by Hyundai Motors, 7-speed transmission and 2-mode secondary transmission. Capable of moving on both land and water, it has been engineered to maximize crew operability with its ergonomic design and scalability to family vehicles.

The 8×8 Wheeled Armored Vehicle is currently in the system development phase and is expected to be deployed by 2016.

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Although exact specifications are scarce, Hyundai indicates its unnamed Wheeled Armored Vehicle or WAV platform began development in 2012. Despite South Korea’s close ties with the US, rather than license-build a LAV-25 or Stryker, the WAV appears to be modeled on different 8×8 APCs.

Instead of a glacis plate, the vehicle’s front is raised and reinforced with armor, like Turkey’s PARS, and there appears to be a small camera in the middle for the driver’s visibility similar to the Singaporean Terrex. The power plant, located front right, is unknown but judging from similar 8×8’s is probably a diesel engine in the 500 hp range. Probable top speed is between 100 to 105 km/h and maximum range is 600 km.

Without additional layers of protections or modules, the basic WAV will have at least STANAG IV armor. A combination of a bilge pump and twin water jet propellers at the rear hull allows for amphibious crossings at either 8 or 10 km/h. The WAV configured as an APC carries nine passengers, who enter via a rear hydraulic ramp, and two crew. A pair of side doors and a driver’s hatch allow access to the front. Four additional hatches are behind the turret.

An estimated 600 of these vehicles will have entered service by 2020.