Kia previews latest Korean humvee concept at defence exhibition

Did you know that Kia has been building tactical defence vehicles for the Korean Army since 2016? Tactical vehicles have been a huge part of Kia, so it’s not a surprise that the company is currently showcasing 2 light tactical defence vehicles at the 2021 International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in the UAE.

IDEX is the largest international defence exhibition in the Middle East and Africa. If you’ve watched the episode of Richard Hammond and the Marauder, you know that there are plenty of eccentric car buyers that would head to that region in search of a good tactical vehicle.

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Kia has been part of the IDEX exhibition since 2015, and the 2021 booth is the company’s largest involvement to date.

On show at the booth is Kia’s latest vision of how light tactical trucks would be like in the future. The Light Tactical Cargo Truck concept adopts a bold commanding design and can transport both troops and the armoury that they need for their missions.

Alongside the concept truck, Kia also has the concept truck's modular chassis on display, known as the 'Bare Chassis'. With the body of the truck removed, it provides a glimpse of the platform’s scalability as a basis for a range of vehicles that Kia is planning to build based on the platform.

The concept was developed in close cooperation with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration so it is optimised for use by military forces.

Kia claims that the concept truck offers the military easy mobility, durability, and a high-level of functionality.

For example, the long-wheelbase design allows the military to tailor fit different structures such as a cargo box, a mobile workshop, and a communications centre according to which the truck is used.

The concept vehicle also has the capacity to carry 10 fully-armed soldiers and up to 3,000 kg worth of cargo.

Perhaps if there ever is a reversed Crash Landing on You drama where the main lead lands in South Korean armies, Kia would want the Light Tactical Cargo Truck front and centre!