South Korea's future infantry fighting vehicles to combine stealth and drones for next-generation warfare.

As reported by Junsupreme on August 18, 2025, at the 2025 National Defense Industry Expo (INLEX), Hanwha Aerospace presented the development status of the Redback eX, also referred to as the NIFV Block-I, as well as the development plan for the NIFV Block-II armored vehicle.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Key systems expected in the new armored vehicles include the Iron Fist active protection system, a 40 mm CTA cannon developed by SNT Dynamics, and an anti-tank missile with a range of up to 8 km. (Picture source: Army Recognition based on visuals from Sheldon's Military)

The Redback eX is part of the “Export Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle Modification Development” program, which is scheduled to run from October 2024 to March 2028 and has already passed a preliminary design review milestone in March 2025. This project builds directly on the AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicle, which was originally designed for export markets, and is intended to progress the concept into more advanced forms capable of meeting both domestic and international requirements. By detailing Block-I development alongside Block-II plans, Hanwha Aerospace positioned the NIFV family as a long-term initiative with timelines extending into the 2030s.

The Redback eX (NIFV Block-I) integrates modular turret technology that allows adaptation to varied operational requirements from different customer countries. It also involves the domestic development of protection technologies and comprehensive protective systems. The stated objective is to increase the localization rate of components from 19 percent to 95 percent. This shift is intended to limit reliance on foreign subsystems, to ensure the availability of spare parts, and to align with South Korea’s broader industrial policy of self-reliance in defense systems. The development plan highlights how modularity and high levels of domestic production are expected to improve export competitiveness. The Block-I effort is therefore designed as both a technical platform and an industrial measure to broaden options for production and configuration.

The NIFV Block-II is described as an evolutionary step from Block-I, retaining its base platform while adding new survivability and mobility enhancements. A stealth-oriented shape is planned to reduce radar and infrared signatures, aiming to lower detectability in multiple domains. The Block-II vehicle incorporates an electric propulsion system, an active suspension system, and an intelligent fire control system. These additions are presented as part of a broader effort to modernize the vehicle’s performance envelope by combining reduced signatures with improvements in terrain mobility and combat efficiency. The vehicle’s form is described as a low-observable design that provides survivability advantages compared to existing infantry fighting vehicles.

The wider NIFV program envisions a next-generation armored vehicle with a combat weight of about 45 tons, designed to integrate manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), artificial intelligence applications in command and fire control, and a target detection network that links into broader operational architectures. It also incorporates 360-degree situational awareness systems and active protection technologies. Protection levels are indicated as reaching level 6 on the upper hull and turret, while the underbody is designed to withstand threats corresponding to level 4 standards. Composite rubber tracks, introduced earlier on the AS21 Redback, are included in this design to reduce operational noise, cut overall weight by more than 50 percent compared to steel tracks, and extend durability while saving fuel. These tracks, together with active suspension, are aimed at enhancing off-road performance and maintaining mobility without reducing speed in challenging terrain.

Subsystems identified for the NIFV family include the Iron Fist active protection system, which detects incoming anti-armor threats using active electronically scanned array radar and attempts interception through both soft-kill and hard-kill methods. Another system is Iron Vision, a helmet-mounted display that gives crew members the ability to view external conditions from inside the armored hull by projecting images from external cameras. Armament packages include a 40 mm cased telescoped armament (CTA) cannon developed by SNT Dynamics, a 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon station, and an anti-tank guided missile with an effective range of up to 8 km. These weapons and sensors are housed within a modular turret framework, which allows integration of alternative payloads depending on customer requirements. Taken together, these systems represent an emphasis on layered defense, advanced crew awareness, and flexible firepower rather than a single specialized function.

The rationale for this new program is tied to limitations in the South Korean Army’s current K21 infantry fighting vehicle, which has structural constraints due to its amphibious design. Analysts note that without new development, the approximately 400 K21 vehicles may remain in service beyond 2030 despite concerns over survivability. The program schedule includes requirements validation and initial studies in 2024, a basic program strategy in 2025, feasibility assessments in 2026, exploratory development from 2027 through 2031, and full system development starting in 2032, followed by production and entry into service in the mid to late 2030s. In this sequence, Block-I provides an industrial and modular foundation, while Block-II introduces stealth shaping and advanced automotive technologies to move the design toward its eventual full operational capability.

Hanwha Aerospace connects the NIFV development path to its export experience with the AS21 Redback, particularly in the Australian Land 400 Phase 3 program, where the Redback was selected despite a reduction of the original order from 450 vehicles to 129. The company views the export-oriented Redback eX as a stepping stone toward the Block-II and subsequent designs. The 2024–2028 timeline for Block-I, combined with the March 2025 design review milestone, creates a near-term framework for development. Block-II, running in parallel, emphasizes low-observable shaping and electric drive. By raising localization from 19 percent to 95 percent in Block-I and incorporating advanced survivability features in Block-II, Hanwha Aerospace has set out a plan to align future NIFV platforms with both domestic defense requirements and the demands of the international armored vehicle market well into the 2030s.