Kia Unveils 'Next-Generation Tactical Vehicle' at UAE Defense Exhibition

Kia Small Tactical Vehicle Concept Car 4-Seater Cargo

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Kia announced on the 22nd that it will participate in the 'IDEX 2021 (International Defense Exhibition & Conference 2021)' defense exhibition held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the 25th.

Now in its 15th edition, the IDEX defense exhibition is the largest international defense industry exhibition in the Middle East and Africa region, held biennially since 1993, and Kia has been participating since 2015.

This year, Kia unveiled two next-generation small tactical vehicle concept cars, the ‘4-seat Cargo’ and the ‘Bare Chassis,’ for the first time in the world to actively target the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, its key market.

The two concept cars introduced this time are based on the small tactical vehicles currently operated by Kia, securing frame rigidity equivalent to a 7-ton vehicle, equipped with a 225-horsepower engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, achieving best-in-class performance.

The small tactical vehicle 4-seat Cargo concept car features a front design utilizing straight lines to create a strong impression, with three-dimensional shapes added around the grille and headlamps to realize a grand and futuristic feel.

Additionally, it is equipped with a cargo bed capable of transporting troops and various weapons, able to carry about 4 tons of supplies including 8 fully armed soldiers, providing versatile operational capabilities.

Alongside, the small tactical vehicle Bare Chassis concept car is a vehicle equipped only with the frame and powertrain such as the engine, forming the basic skeleton of the vehicle, offering expandability to develop various equipment including armored vehicles.

In particular, Kia expects this vehicle to attract great interest from customers in the MENA market, where the development of various mobile equipment using bare chassis is active.

Meanwhile, Kia plans to set up an integrated exhibition hall of about 304㎡, the largest ever, together with Hyundai Rotem at this exhibition and conduct joint marketing activities.

A Kia official said, “At IDEX 2021, we unveiled two small tactical vehicle concept cars and showcased Kia’s vision for next-generation military vehicles,” adding, “We expect this participation to be an opportunity to expand exports of Kia military vehicles, which have been recognized for their excellent product competitiveness by the Korean military.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.