Seoul: Kia Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, on Monday showcased a lineup of its military mobility platforms at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025. At the biennial defense trade show underway at KINTEX in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, Kia featured a military command variant of its Tasman pickup truck that has been enhanced for operational use with radios, antennas, and other tactical equipment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the vehicle was recently selected as the South Korean military's standard command pickup model and is set to be deployed for operational use later this year. Kia has been developing military vehicles since the 1970s. The company also displayed its Kia Medium Tactical Vehicle, first introduced in June, which boasts enhanced off-road and operational performance, including the ability to travel in 1-meter-deep rivers, climb 60 percent gradients, and transport up to 25 troops or 10 tons of cargo.
In addition, Kia showcased several variants of the Kia Light Tactical Vehicle, tailored to different operational missions, including a drone carrier variant for reconnaissance missions and a surveillance vehicle with artificial intelligence (AI). "Our presence at ADEX highlights Kia's commitment to providing a wide range of tactical mobility solutions to ensure safe and efficient troop movement," a Kia official said. "We will continue to present our vision for the future of military mobility."
At Hyundai Motor Group's integrated exhibition booth, the group's two other affiliates - Hyundai Rotem Co. and Hyundai Wia Corp. - also promoted their own defense industry products. Hyundai Rotem showcased its defense solutions, ranging from ground weapon systems and aerospace technologies to AI and hydrogen-powered mobility. The company unveiled Black Veil, a hydrogen fuel cell-based unmanned electrified mobility platform capable of carrying out confidential missions.
Hyundai Wia presented a lineup that includes a vehicle-mounted fire system, a naval gun, and a drone-landing system for unmanned aerial vehicles. The company also displayed a full-scale model of its lightweight 105 mm self-propelled gun, along with an anti-drone system designed to protect key national facilities and troops from hostile drones. Also on display was the gun component of a Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) for naval use, a system that has drawn attention in the maritime defense sector.