Article Posted on : - Jan 14, 2011

K21 Next-Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle (NIFV).

SEOUL (BNS): South Korea plans to resume deployment of a new model of amphibious armoured infantry fighting vehicle, the K-21, in April this year.

According to a news report by Yonhap news agency, the deployment was suspended due to some design and mechanical flaws in the system which led to the sinking of one of the vehicles during training last year.

Officials had promised to replace all faulty parts by February this year.

"We have fixed all problems through four rounds of testing," an official of the Defence Acquisition Program Administration, was quoted as saying in the news report.

The K-21 infantry fighting vehicle was developed in 2007 and some 60 units had been put into service before the deployment was suspended last year.

The armed force is planning to deploy about 100 K-21 vehicles this year. South Korea spent $80.3 million and 10 years to develop the K-21.

The 26-tonne vehicle is equipped with a stabilised 40-millimetre cannon, a 7.63-mm machine gun and a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles.