According to the Polish Rosomak SA plant in Siemianowice-Slenskie, part of the Polish state defense industry association Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA (PGZ), the first three South Korean light wheeled armored vehicles KLTV (4x4) manufactured by Kia Motors were delivered to Poland. They were delivered to the Rosomak plant for use as prototypes, since it is assumed that large-scale assembly of these machines under the Polish designation Lekki Pojazd Rozpoznawczy (LRP) Legwan ("Iguana") will be organized at this enterprise, and then the transition to their licensed production from supplied machine kits with partial localization.
The first three South Korean light wheeled armored vehicles Kia KLTV received by Poland, 04/16/2024 (c) Rosomak SA
Recall that on August 14, 2023, the Polish Ministry of National Defense signed a framework contract with a consortium including the Polish PGZ association and the Rosomak plant, which is part of it, for the supply of about 400 light reconnaissance wheeled armored vehicles Lekki Pojazd Rozpoznawczy (LRP) to the Polish Army, representing a variant of the South Korean Kia KLTV (4x4) light armored vehicle.
The contract value is 1.2 billion zlotys with VAT (about $ 290 million), including the creation of a licensed production of these machines at the Rosomak plant, and the provision of services for their maintenance and repair. The delivery of the ordered machines should be made from 2024 to 2030. The first batches of LRP (KLTV) machines must be delivered to Poland ready from the South Korean production line and undergo the necessary modifications and completions at the Rosomak plant. Then it is supposed to organize large-scale assembly of machines at this enterprise, and, finally, the transition to licensed production from supplied machine kits with partial localization. In general, Polish plans extend to the purchase of 3,000 LRP (KLTV) machines in various versions.
The LPR should have a slightly modified armored hull compared to the base KLTV machine, a total combat weight of 5,700 kg, and be equipped with a 6-cylinder turbocharged Hyundai D6EB diesel engine with a capacity of 225 hp with an 8-speed Hyundai Powertech A8TR1 automatic transmission. The vehicle is designed to carry four equipped military personnel and must have STANAG 4569 Level 2 and 3 ballistic protection levels. The vehicles in the basic version will be equipped with a manually rotating platform with a shield cover for mounting a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
The KLTV armored vehicle (Raycolt export marketing designation) was developed for the South Korean army by Kia Corporation (as part of the Hyundai Motor Company Group) and has been mass-produced in several variants since 2016. By now, KLTVS have already been exported in small quantities to a number of countries, but the Polish contract has become the largest export agreement for them.
The first three South Korean light wheeled armored vehicles Kia KLTV received by Poland, 04/16/2024 (c) Rosomak SA
Video of tests by firing armor protection of Kia KLTV cars for Poland: