Hanwha Aerospace has signed a contract with Cendana Auto to upgrade the Malaysian Army’s K200 infantry fighting vehicles.
Under the agreement, a prototype vehicle will be initially upgraded followed by the rest of the fleet.
Malaysia acquired 111 Hanwha Defense K200s over three decades ago and an additional batch of upgraded K200A1 vehicles later. They feature an improved engine, reinforced armor and NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) protection.
“This initiative represents a significant step for Hanwha Aerospace to bolster its reputation as a trusted and reliable defense supplier in the global market by conducting all levels of activities from arms development & manufacturing to the supply of components, and even MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) services,” the South Korean defense giant wrote.
MRO Hub
Malaysian Cendana stated that the agreement intends to build the local MRO industry for armored vehicles and make Malaysia a regional MRO hub in the automotive sector.
“In addition, this joint venture will be able to contribute to the development of the local defense industry and provide opportunities to young people to participate in gaining knowledge and expertise in the field of defense technology & engineering and R&D,” Cendana wrote.
K200 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The 13-ton tracked vehicle can transport troops, nine passengers and three crew, and provide fire support through its integrated weapon systems.
It is armed with an M2 machine gun as its primary weapon and an M60 or K12 machine gun as its secondary armament. The upgraded models have the option of installing remote-controlled weapons.
It is powered by a MAN-Doosan D2848T 350-horsepower engine, has an operational range of 450 kilometers (279 miles), and a top speed of 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour.