ID :
171804
Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/171804
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to decide on resuming deployment of K21 armored vehicle in April
SEOUL (Yonhap) - South Korea's weapons procurement agency said Wednesday it will make a decision in April on whether to resume deployment of a new amphibious armored vehicle as it fixes design and mechanical flaws that led to the sinking of one of the vehicles last year.
Deployment of the K21 infantry fighting vehicle was suspended last year following the sinking during a river-crossing drill in July. The accident left one soldier dead.
After a two-month investigation, military auditors confirmed a handful of design and mechanical flaws in parts of the vehicle were to blame for the sinking.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has fixed or replaced faulty parts of the vehicle, including a drainage pump and the waterproof seal of its hull, and will hold a final round of tests on Thursday.
"Throughout the final tests, we will confirm the revamped performance of the K21 infantry fighting vehicle and make a decision in late April on whether to resume deployment," a DAPA official said.
The K21, co-developed by the state-run Agency for Defense Development and Doosan DST in 2007, is the Army's first amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. About 60 units had been deployed so far after they were first put into service in November 2009.
The Army plans to acquire some 500 K21s by 2015.
Equipped with a stabilized 40-millimeter cannon, a 7.63mm machine gun and a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles, the 26-ton vehicle can carry three crew members and travel at a speed of up to 70 kilometers per hour.
Deployment of the K21 infantry fighting vehicle was suspended last year following the sinking during a river-crossing drill in July. The accident left one soldier dead.
After a two-month investigation, military auditors confirmed a handful of design and mechanical flaws in parts of the vehicle were to blame for the sinking.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has fixed or replaced faulty parts of the vehicle, including a drainage pump and the waterproof seal of its hull, and will hold a final round of tests on Thursday.
"Throughout the final tests, we will confirm the revamped performance of the K21 infantry fighting vehicle and make a decision in late April on whether to resume deployment," a DAPA official said.
The K21, co-developed by the state-run Agency for Defense Development and Doosan DST in 2007, is the Army's first amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. About 60 units had been deployed so far after they were first put into service in November 2009.
The Army plans to acquire some 500 K21s by 2015.
Equipped with a stabilized 40-millimeter cannon, a 7.63mm machine gun and a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles, the 26-ton vehicle can carry three crew members and travel at a speed of up to 70 kilometers per hour.
