South Korea tests export waters with new wheeled tank

South Korea showcased a new variant of its indigenous wheeled armored vehicle, the 8×8 “Tigon” MCV-105, at the 2025 Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX), underlining the country’s efforts to expand its ground systems portfolio for both domestic use and export.

The MCV-105, developed by Hanwha Defense, features a 105mm tank gun mounted in a turret modeled after the K2 main battle tank.

The turret configuration presented at the show was a mockup, but one that reflected the intended firepower of the future platform. The vehicle is also equipped with a compact active protection system (APS), designed to intercept incoming projectiles. A similar APS unit was integrated into a 30mm cannon turret variant of the same platform.

The Tigon 8×8 is the latest evolution of Hanwha’s Tigon armored vehicle line, which originated as a 6×6 design introduced at the 2018 Defense Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. The 6×6 variant was developed for harsh terrain operations in Asia and the Middle East. It features a 525-horsepower engine, STANAG Level 3 protection, and amphibious capability with water-jet propulsion. The vehicle can exceed 110 kilometers per hour on land and reach 8.5 kilometers per hour in water.

Hanwha had previously promoted the idea of a wheeled light tank variant of the Tigon platform to several international customers, including Saudi Arabia and Peru. The MCV-105 configuration displayed at ADEX 2025 appears to reflect that concept, with visual emphasis on heavier direct firepower integrated into a fast-moving chassis.

As noted by Hanwha, the Tigon series is designed to serve as a highly mobile, modular combat platform adaptable to various mission requirements. By integrating heavier weapons systems onto the wheeled base, Hanwha aims to offer firepower typically reserved for tracked vehicles, while retaining the mobility advantages of an 8×8.