On Sunday, April 14, 2024, the South Korean Defence Agency Of Technology and Quality (DTaQ) released a video dated December 14, 2023, showing ballistic resistance tests of the armored vehicle KIA KLTV intended for Poland, where it will serve as the future Light Reconnaissance Vehicle (LRV) Legwan.
Photos: DTAQ
The verification tests of ballistic shields for door armor and windows against small-caliber weapon fire were conducted at the Defense Firing Test Center in Inje, Gangwon Province.
In the published video, the effects of fire from the Daewoo Precision Industries K2 assault rifle, using a 5.56 mm x 45 NATO cartridge, were demonstrated. A representative from KIA mentioned in a segment of the interview that during the development of the KLTV platform, ballistic protection of sensitive areas was not verified, and only three shooting tests were conducted for the main crew compartment protective areas. Therefore, as part of these trials, a test of sensitive areas was also conducted.
The ballistic resistance tests for the vehicles in Polish configuration were conducted by the General Testing Center for Defense under the supervision of the Korea Institute of Technology in accordance with the International Quality Guarantee Agreement with Poland. The trials were aimed at confirming whether the assumed design specifications meet the testing requirements. The manufacturer assured that if analysis reveals any need for structural changes, every effort will be made to ensure that the export agreement is properly executed.
KLTV Raycolt/K151 was designed to replace the tactical vehicles KIA K131 (KM131 Jeep, KM420) and the 1/4-ton truck KIA K311 (KM450). The project was selected and developed by KIA in 2012 under contract from the DAPA agency. It entered serial production and was deployed by the Republic Of Korea Armed Forces in 2016.
In the case of the unarmored version of the vehicle, a composite material was used, providing ballistic protection at level 1 according to STANAG 4569 (7.62 mm x 51 NATO, 5.56 mm x 45 NATO). For the armored version, it provides protection at level 2 (7.62 mm x 39 API) or 3 (7.62 mm x 51 AP) according to STANAG 4569.
On August 14, 2023, a contract was signed between the Armament Agency and the PGZ-Rosomak consortium for the delivery of nearly 400 Light Reconnaissance Vehicles Legwan in a 4×4 drive configuration, with delivery scheduled for the years 2024-2030. The contract value is approximately 1.2 billion PLN gross (approximately 296.7 million USD). The first unit was presented at last year’s MSPO in Kielce. From the first deliveries onwards, the vehicle will receive a new, modernized body prepared for the needs of the Polish project. Over the following years, Rosomak plans to gradually transfer the production of vehicle components to Poland, starting with the transfer of body production technology and introducing structural changes to meet the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces.