Successor to K200A1 and K21: South Korea Presents AI-Powered IFV With Drone Defense

South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has presented its new K-NIFV infantry fighting vehicle at the Seoul ADEX 2025 defense exhibition.

The vehicle features artificial intelligence, an unmanned turret with a 30 mm cannon, and dual launchers for anti-tank missiles, NextGenDefense reported.

Based on the Redback platform, the K-NIFV replaces the manned turret with a fully automated system, improving crew protection and accommodating up to eight infantry troops. The modular turret can be equipped with a 40 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and domestically produced anti-tank missiles.

A key feature of the K-NIFV is its layered counter-drone system, which combines radar guidance, automatic target tracking, and hard-kill active protection. The system can detect, track, and destroy drones over a range from about 1 kilometer to close distances.

Several national partners are involved in development: SNT Dynamics provides the gun and transmission, while Hanwha Systems supplies sensors and optics. The vehicle is also designed to integrate with reconnaissance drones and ground robots.

The K-NIFV program, valued at roughly $25 million, was launched in October 2024 and is scheduled for completion in March 2028.

Hanwha plans for the K-NIFV to replace the aging K200A1 fleet, and later the K21. The company is also in talks for exports with Romania, Italy, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.