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WDS 2026: Hyundai WIA presents lightweight 105 mm self-propelled howitzer on Kia tactical vehicle.
At World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Hyundai WIA unveiled a lightweight 105 mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on a KIA light tactical vehicle. The system reflects South Korea’s push toward highly mobile, networked artillery designed for rapid deployment with light infantry and airborne units.
At the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Hyundai WIA introduced a lightweight 105 mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on KIA light tactical vehicles, illustrating the direction taken by South Korea to equip light infantry and airborne units with artillery that can maneuver as rapidly as the forces it supports. The configuration prioritizes strategic and tactical mobility, limits manpower demands, and is designed from the outset to connect with contemporary command-and-control architectures, enabling responsive fire support across dispersed operations.
At World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh, Hyundai WIA revealed a lightweight 105 mm self-propelled howitzer mounted on a KIA tactical vehicle, underscoring South Korea’s focus on highly mobile, networked artillery for modern light and airborne forces (Picture Source: Army Recognition Group)
According to Hyundai WIA, the 105 mm self-propelled howitzer has been conceived as a highly mobile and lightweight solution optimized for light infantry brigades and airborne units that require indirect fire support without the logistical burden of heavy tracked artillery. The system combines field-proven subsystems developed in the Republic of Korea and abroad, bringing together the howitzer, the tactical vehicle and C4I components in a single package. The manufacturer stresses the “shoot and scoot” concept: firing data are transmitted via a shooting data link, and the automatic gun-laying capability allows the crew to engage targets quickly and then displace in order to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery fire.
The artillery vehicle itself is based on the KIA K351 light tactical vehicle and has a combat weight of 7 tons. It is operated by a crew of two, which underlines the focus on limiting manpower while keeping the platform compact and air-mobile. Elevation limits for the 105 mm ordnance are given as −5° to +65°, with a traverse sector of ±270°, providing wide arcs of fire suited to complex terrain and dispersed deployments. Control accuracy is quoted as within 1 mil, while position accuracy is specified as within a circular error probable of 10 meters, figures made possible by the integration of GPS, an inertial navigation system (INS) and a velocity measurement sensor (VMS).
In terms of firepower, Hyundai WIA reports a maximum rate of fire of 10 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of 3 rounds per minute. Maximum firing range is 14.7 km using charge 8 and extends to 18 km when employing rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP), offering a level of reach consistent with modern 105 mm artillery requirements. These characteristics, combined with the system’s mobility, are intended to give light forces the ability to deliver responsive indirect fire while maintaining a low logistical footprint.
The artillery vehicle is complemented by a dedicated fire command vehicle and an ammunition vehicle, both using KIA light tactical platforms to ensure commonality. The fire command vehicle, built on the KIA K152 light tactical vehicle, has a reported combat weight of 5.7 tons and accommodates a crew of four. It is described as bulletproof and equipped with an on-board BTCS (Battalion Tactical Command System), which functions as the command node for the battery. The ammunition vehicle, again based on the KIA K351 light tactical vehicle and weighing 7 tons, is crewed by two personnel and carries 40 rounds of 105 mm ammunition, supporting sustained fire missions without the need for heavy logistic vehicles.
Networking is a central feature of the system architecture. Hyundai WIA indicates that all vehicles are equipped with the B2CS (Battalion and Below Command and Control System) and the TMMR (Tactical Multi-band Multi-role Radio). These systems are intended to integrate the howitzer section into wider tactical and operational networks, enabling sharing of target data, fire missions and situational awareness with higher echelons and adjacent units. The combination of GPS/INS/VMS-based navigation, digital fire-control and secure radios is presented as a way to improve accuracy, reduce reaction times and facilitate coordination with other maneuver elements.
Mobility is another point underlined in the brochure. The KIA-based chassis is described as providing superior maneuverability in rough and narrow terrain, characteristics that can be particularly relevant for operations in mountainous, desert or urban environments. The overall system has been designed to be transportable by helicopter, a feature that fits the needs of airborne and air-mobile operations where artillery must be rapidly deployed to remote or austere locations.
The human-resource aspect is also taken into account. Beyond the reduced crews for each vehicle, Hyundai WIA notes that the organization of a battery equipped with this 105 mm self-propelled system can be kept compact, with four personnel assigned to battery command functions and four to artillery operations. This staffing model supports armed forces that need to balance operational readiness with demographic and budgetary constraints, while still fielding capable indirect-fire assets.
By presenting this light weight 105 mm self-propelled howitzer on KIA light tactical vehicles at World Defense Show 2026, Hyundai WIA illustrates how the South Korean defense industry is addressing the growing demand for mobile, air-transportable artillery adapted to light and expeditionary forces. With its combination of proven 105 mm firepower, modern digital fire-control, networked command systems and a family of common tactical vehicles, the system positions itself as a candidate solution for armed forces seeking to modernize their indirect-fire capabilities in a manner that is both operationally flexible and respectful of personnel and logistics constraints, while remaining politically neutral in its prospective export applications.