SEOUL, South Korea — May 18, 2026 : The Republic of Korea Marine Corps has publicly unveiled the KAAV-II, its next-generation amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, for the first time, revealing a new unmanned turret armed with a 40mm Cased Telescoped Ammunition (CTA) autocannon as part of South Korea’s ongoing amphibious warfare modernization program.
Developed by Hanwha Aerospace, the KAAV-II is intended to replace or supplement the Marine Corps’ current fleet of KAAV-7A1 assault amphibious vehicles, which are derived from the AAV-7 platform currently in service. The unveiling provided the clearest look so far at the vehicle’s combat configuration and the advanced systems planned for integration into South Korea’s future armored vehicle fleet.
Defense observers, including military commentator Mason Yeonhaku, noted that several technologies incorporated into the KAAV-II are also planned for the upcoming K-NIFV (Korean New Infantry Fighting Vehicle) program. By integrating these systems into the KAAV-II first, South Korean developers are establishing a common technological foundation for multiple next-generation armored platforms.
A central feature of the KAAV-II is its unmanned turret equipped with a 40mm CTA autocannon. The new turret replaces the manned weapon station mounted on existing KAAV vehicles, which currently use a 40mm automatic grenade launcher alongside a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. The unmanned configuration is designed to improve crew survivability while increasing available internal space for embarked Marines and mission equipment.
According to available defense data, the KAAV-II has a combat weight of approximately 35 tons and is designed to improve both amphibious mobility and ground combat effectiveness. The 40mm CTA autocannon is intended to provide greater firepower against light armored vehicles and low-altitude aerial threats, including unmanned aerial systems. The weapon system also reflects the increasing adoption of higher-caliber automatic cannons on modern infantry fighting vehicles to address evolving battlefield requirements.
Development of the KAAV-II began around 2015 as part of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps’ long-term modernization effort. A scale model of the vehicle was first displayed during the Seoul ADEX defense exhibition in 2019. Since then, the program has continued through testing and development phases focused on improving water mobility, protection, and digital battlefield integration.
The vehicle is expected to incorporate advanced command-and-control systems, modern sensor suites, and elements of active protection technologies aligned with systems under development for the K-NIFV program. Reports from South Korean defense sources indicate that the KAAV-II is also designed to achieve higher water speeds than current amphibious assault vehicles, with some estimates placing projected speeds at approximately 20 kilometers per hour or higher through the use of upgraded propulsion systems.
Despite the recent public unveiling, the physical KAAV-II prototype has remained absent from several major South Korean defense exhibitions in recent years. Journalists and defense analysts attending events such as KADEX, MADEX, and Seoul ADEX reported that only scale models of the vehicle were displayed, while other future systems, including the HPRS and K-NIFV prototypes, were exhibited in person.
Industry reports indicated that Hanwha Aerospace reduced public appearances of the physical prototype following a fatal amphibious testing accident near Pohang in September 2023. The incident reportedly resulted in additional evaluations and safety reviews during the vehicle’s ongoing development process.
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps currently operates approximately 164 KAAV vehicles. Once development and testing requirements are completed, the KAAV-II is expected to proceed to mass production and gradually enter operational service alongside existing K-21 Infantry Fighting Vehicles and current-generation KAAV platforms.
The KAAV-II program forms part of South Korea’s broader effort to strengthen indigenous amphibious warfare and armored combat capabilities while improving interoperability across future military vehicle programs.
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