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Philippines Strengthens Its Fleet with South Korean KMPV Light Tactical Vehicles.
On January 15, 2025, the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) issued a Notice of Award (NOA) for its project to acquire 4x4 off-road vehicles and wheeled ambulances/rescue vehicles. The contract was awarded to South Korean manufacturer KOVICO for its KMPV light tactical vehicle. This acquisition marks an important step in the PMC’s ongoing modernization efforts, aiming to enhance its operational capabilities and improve troop protection.
The KMPV is an armored off-road vehicle designed to meet the diverse needs of military forces, law enforcement, and security operations. (Picture source: Kovico)
The KMPV (KOVICO Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is an armored off-road vehicle designed to meet the diverse needs of military forces, law enforcement, and security operations. With its advanced specifications, this vehicle ensures high mobility while providing robust protection in hostile environments.
The KMPV is built with a monocoque hull, a feature that gives it great strength and increased resistance to impacts. This type of construction helps reduce the vehicle's vulnerable areas, improving its ability to withstand harsh combat conditions. The hull is mounted on a 4x4 chassis with independent suspension, which offers better stability and a more precise response to terrain irregularities. This independent suspension also reduces the shocks felt inside the vehicle, enhancing the comfort for the occupants while ensuring optimal performance on various surfaces.
The 4x4 chassis is a major asset, providing great flexibility to navigate a wide range of terrains, from paved roads to rugged landscapes. This configuration allows the KMPV to reach a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour, while maintaining excellent maneuverability even in complex situations. The 270-horsepower turbo-diesel engine provides sufficient power to meet the demands of the terrain while optimizing fuel consumption, which is a crucial factor during extended missions.
The KMPV’s off-road capabilities are also remarkable. It can climb a slope of up to 60%, enabling it to handle natural obstacles such as steep hills or mountain slopes. Its ability to cross a lateral slope of 30% is also a key asset, especially in urban environments or when operating in mountainous or wooded areas.
Regarding water crossings, the KMPV can ford obstacles up to 1.2 meters deep, a crucial feature for amphibious missions or operations in flooded areas. This ability enhances its effectiveness in rapid deployment missions, particularly in regions where road infrastructure may be damaged or non-existent.
The protection of the KMPV is another central aspect of its design. The vehicle is certified to withstand landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) up to 6 kg of TNT, with a STANAG 45696 level 2 certification. This means the KMPV provides high protection against common threats in war zones, where IEDs and landmines are often used to neutralize armored vehicles. The level of protection against IEDs is crucial for patrol and security operations in sensitive areas.
In terms of ballistic protection, the KMPV is designed to resist gunfire from weapons up to the 7.62x51mm AP (armor-piercing) caliber. This resistance is particularly important for missions in intense conflict zones, where vehicles are exposed to attacks from various types of weaponry. The combination of these protections—against explosives and direct gunfire—ensures maximum safety for the vehicle’s occupants, allowing them to focus on their mission without immediate threat concerns.
The KMPV is, therefore, a versatile platform capable of carrying out a wide range of missions, from reconnaissance and troop escort to rescue operations in urban environments or conflict zones. The robustness of its design and off-road capabilities, combined with its enhanced protection, makes it a strategic asset for military and security forces, who can rely on a vehicle capable of handling multiple threats while ensuring the safety of its occupants in extreme conditions.
The acquisition of the KMPV fits within the Philippine Marine Corps’ ongoing modernization efforts to enhance its amphibious warfare capabilities. The PMC has already integrated various armored vehicles into its fleet, such as the AAV7A1 amphibious assault vehicle and the Commando V-150 armored personnel carrier. The addition of the KMPV is expected to provide the PMC with a versatile and protected platform for a wide range of operational scenarios.
The acquisition highlights the PMC’s commitment to modernizing its fleet with advanced, versatile, and protected vehicles. This acquisition is expected to improve the operational efficiency of the PMC, particularly in conducting coastal defense and amphibious operations. The KMPV’s capabilities should offer the PMC a reliable platform for various operational scenarios, thereby strengthening the overall defense posture of the Philippines.