Armoured Vehicle / MRAP
K200 KIFV
The K200 KIFV is a South Korean tracked armoured personnel carrier developed from the US FMC AIFV, produced since 1985 by Hyundai Rotem, formerly Daewoo. It weighs about 12.2 t, carries a crew of three and nine troops, and is amphibious.
South Korea|Hyundai Rotem / Doosan DSTOverview
The K200, the Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle (KIFV), was developed in 1982–84 by Daewoo, now Hyundai Rotem, as a licensed derivative of the FMC AIFV, and Korean production began in 1985. It has an aluminium hull, a 12.7 mm M2HB machine gun behind a shield and a trim vane for amphibious movement. Weight is about 12.2 t, road speed 64 km/h and range 480 km, with a crew of three and nine troops. Variants include the K242 mortar carrier, K263 anti-aircraft, K281 command and K277 ambulance.
The K200A1 is the improved model, and the K21 IFV succeeded it in front-line roles, though K200A1s remain in service in large numbers. Operators are South Korea, Türkiye and Malaysia. Türkiye bought about 130 K200A1 vehicles under an export deal from 1997, and the Turkish ACV-15 from FNSS is a related AIFV-based vehicle. The K200 is commonly compared with the M113, BMP-1 and AIFV. Road speed of 64 km/h and weight of 12.2 t are commonly cited figures.
Key Specifications
Variants
The K200 is the original Korean tracked armoured personnel carrier derived from the AIFV.
The K200A1 is the improved model that remains in service in large numbers.
The K200A1 Hyundai Rotem is the version built by Hyundai Rotem and exported to countries such as Türkiye.
Operators
South Korea
Türkiye
MalaysiaFrequently Asked Questions
What is the K200 KIFV?
The K200 KIFV is a South Korean tracked armoured personnel carrier developed from the US FMC AIFV. It has an aluminium hull, a 12.7 mm machine gun and carries nine troops.
How fast is the K200?
The K200 KIFV has a road speed of about 64 km/h and a range of about 480 km. It weighs about 12.2 t and is amphibious.
Which countries use the K200?
The K200 KIFV is used by South Korea, Türkiye and Malaysia. Türkiye bought about 130 K200A1 vehicles under a 1997 export deal. The K200A1 remains in service with South Korea in large numbers.
K200 vs M113: which is better?
The K200 KIFV is a tracked armoured personnel carrier derived from the AIFV, while the M113 is an older US design. The K200 carries nine troops in an aluminium hull and is amphibious with a trim vane.
Is the K200 the same as the ACV-15?
No, but they are related. Both derive from the US FMC AIFV; the K200 KIFV is built in South Korea, while the ACV-15 is built by FNSS in Türkiye.
What replaced the K200 in South Korea?
The K21 IFV succeeded the K200 KIFV in front-line infantry roles. K200A1 vehicles still serve in large numbers in the Korean Army. The K21 is a newer infantry fighting vehicle, and the K200 family includes mortar, command and ambulance variants.