South Korea Positions Tigon 8x8 as Multi-Mission Platform With Acoustic Gunshot Detection.

Hanwha Aerospace is presenting its Tigon 8x8 armored vehicle family at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, featuring configurations with advanced sensing systems such as acoustic gunshot detection. The display underscores South Korea’s growing focus on modular, export-ready armored vehicles and expanding industrial ties with international partners, including Türkiye’s ASELSAN.

At the World Defense Show 2026, opening in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Hanwha Aerospace is highlighting its Tigon 8x8 armored vehicle in a configuration that emphasizes situational awareness as much as protection and mobility. According to industry officials familiar with the program, the vehicle on display integrates the SEDA 100 Acoustic Gunshot Detection System from ASELSAN, reflecting a broader push by the South Korean firm to position the Tigon as a flexible, multi-mission platform tailored for international customers in the Middle East and beyond.
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The Hanwha Aerospace Tigon 8x8 armored vehicle was displayed at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Hanwha Aerospace proposes the Tigon family as a scalable solution built around three core configurations, 4×4, 6×6, and 8×8, each designed to address different operational requirements. Originally developed from a 6×6 platform co-designed with Malaysia’s AVP Engineering, the Tigon lineage evolves from earlier Hanwha wheeled armored concepts and incorporates higher protection levels, improved mobility, and broader weapon integration options. The vehicle family is marketed internationally as adaptable to national requirements, including localized production, technology transfer, and tailored training programs.

The 4×4 Tigon variant weighs approximately 14 tons and adopts a modular architecture allowing conversion into multiple mission roles, including armored personnel carrier, reconnaissance, command, ambulance, and engineering support. It provides ballistic protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and mine protection up to Level 3, positioning it for both military and internal security missions. Its compact size and modularity are intended to support operations across varied terrain while maintaining flexibility for future upgrades.

The 6×6 version represents the original core of the Tigon program. With a combat weight of around 21 tons, it is powered by a 525-horsepower Caterpillar C9.3 engine paired with an Allison 4500SP automatic transmission, enabling road speeds up to 110 km/h and an operational range of roughly 800 km. The vehicle accommodates up to 11 personnel and supports remotely controlled weapon stations in 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm calibers, as well as 30 mm unmanned turrets. Ballistic and mine protection are both rated at STANAG 4569 Level 4. Its amphibious capability, achieved through jet propulsion providing water speeds of about 8.5 km/h, extends its operational envelope to riverine and littoral environments. Independent double wishbone suspension and an all-welded steel hull with optional add-on armor further define its design.

The most heavily protected variant, the Tigon 8×8, weighs between 32 and 34 tons depending on configuration and is powered by a 700-horsepower engine. It reaches speeds of up to 100 km/h and maintains a similar 800 km operational range. Designed to carry 11 personnel, it supports a wide range of weapon systems, including 30 mm autocannons, 105 mm guns, and anti-tank guided missile systems. Protection levels reach STANAG 4569 Level 6 for ballistic threats and Level 4 for mines. Among its configurations is a version equipped with the TAipers (Cheongeom) anti-tank guided missile system, offering an engagement range of up to 8 km, fiber-optic guidance, and reported penetration of approximately 1,000 mm of rolled homogeneous armor. This configuration is associated with South Korea’s 24-1 Export Weapon System Modification and Development Project, led by the Korea Research Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement.

Other 8×8 configurations focus on direct fire support and battlefield control. One integrates a remote weapon control system enabling internal operation of machine guns or automatic grenade launchers, supported by electro-optical sensors combining day cameras, thermal imagers, and laser rangefinders. Another mounts the Cockerill 3105 turret developed by CMI Defence, armed with a low-recoil 105 mm cannon capable of firing NATO-standard ammunition in both direct and indirect fire roles. Hanwha also offers a self-propelled mortar variant armed with a 120 mm gun-mortar system, available in turreted or fully enclosed configurations with automated loading and digital fire control.

At WDS 2026, the Tigon 8×8 is presented with ASELSAN’s SEDA 100 Acoustic Gunshot Detection System integrated onto the platform. SEDA 100 uses advanced acoustic sensors to detect supersonic projectiles and determine the shooter’s location with high accuracy. Designed to operate in diverse environmental conditions, the system provides GIS-based alerts and does not require calibration, facilitating integration on different vehicle types. ASELSAN and Hanwha Aerospace formalized their cooperation through a memorandum of understanding signed in the previous year, covering the integration of SEDA systems onto Hanwha vehicles for domestic and international markets. This collaboration reflects a broader pattern of long-term defense cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Türkiye.

Hanwha Aerospace positions itself as a system integrator capable of partnering with local industries and international suppliers. The Tigon family illustrates this approach through its Malaysian origins, European turret options, Turkish sensor integration, and proposed local production models for potential customers. As wheeled armored vehicle demand continues across multiple regions, the proliferation of the Tigon platform reflects both Hanwha’s export ambitions and a wider trend toward modular armored vehicles designed for adaptation rather than fixed configurations.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.