Kia rides defense sector boom with military vehicles

Kia Corp., South Korea’s second-largest automaker, has unveiled its next-generation military vehicle technologies at the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East for the first time, hoping to make quick inroads into the global defense market with its latest mobility technologies.

The sibling of Korea's No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. said on Monday it premiered its mid-sized standard vehicle at the World Defense Show 2024 (WDS 2024) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which started Sunday and runs through Thursday. 

This is the first time Kia has taken part in the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, joined by about 900 companies this year.

Kia’s medium standard vehicle on display can carry up to 16 people and is capable of crossing a 1-meter-deep stream. It will replace the carmaker’s existing 2.5 to 5-ton tactical vehicles.

It is also showcasing the medium standard vehicle’s bare chassis vehicle, which can be modified into different special vehicles based on customers’ diverse needs and purposes. Kia’s light tactical vehicle and hydrogen-powered all-terrain vehicle (ATV) concept vehicle are also on display.

Kia hopes to make the most of WDS 2024 to show off its excellent mobility technologies in developing military vehicles and make a great impression on its potential customers in the Middle East, which is set to emerge as a major global defense market along with Asia.

“Kia will continue in setting the vision for future military mobility technologies,” said an official from Kia.

MAJOR ARMS POWER

The Korean automaker is accelerating its inroads into the global defense market as Korea’s arms exports have seen rapid growth of late.

Last year, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said in the opening speech of the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 that the defense industry is one of the country’s key future growth engines and pledged to turn Korea into the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter by 2027, behind only the US, Russia and France.

Korea ranked ninth in global arms exports between 2018 and 2022, according to the global security think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Korea’s leading defense companies Hanwha Aerospace Co., Hyundai Rotem Co. and Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) have won mega deals in recent years to export their artillery, tanks, and fighter jets to countries not only in Asia but also in Europe.

They are now eyeing rich Middle Eastern countries joining the global arms race, which has accelerated since Russia attacked Ukraine.

In Augst last year, Kia also signed a contract with the Polish Armaments Group to ship 400 units of its light tactical vehicles, riding Korea’s defense boom.

DESIGNATED AS KOREA’S DEFENSE

Designated as Korea’s defense industry firm in 1973 and a military material supplier in 1976, Kia has been developing a wide range of combat vehicles.

Kia started mass-producing light tactical vehicles in 2010 when it also embarked on developing mid-sized standard vehicles.

In addition to supplying its military vehicles to Korean forces, it also exports them to several foreign countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Chile.

With its commercial passenger vehicle development and manufacturing prowess, Kia is striving to enhance its capabilities in future military mobility technologies.

The hydrogen ATV, powered by Hyundai Motor Group’s next-growth driver fuel cell technology, is one of Kia’s next-generation combat vehicle technologies.  

Fuel cell technology is considered suitable for future military vehicles as it can significantly reduce motor sound and heat generation. It can also supply large amounts of electricity.

This year’s WDS, the second of its kind, will run through Feb. 8.

Other Korean companies, including HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and KAI are also participating in the event.

Write to Jae-Fu Kim and Sang Hoon Sung at hu@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.