South Korea deploys new unmanned K-CEV combat engineering vehicle in first combat exercise.

The South Korean Army tested for the first time the K-CEV, an optionally unmanned engineering vehicle equipped with a remote weapon station, AI-based target detection, reconnaissance drones and an explosive ordnance disposal robot with 3D ground-penetrating radar.

On February 26, 2026, the South Korean Army conducted the first live operational training of the unmanned Korean Combat Engineering Vehicle (K-CEV) at Yangpyeong Training Ground. The K-CEV performed reconnaissance, suppression, mine detection, and obstacle breaching in a live-fire scenario, which tested AI-enabled manned-unmanned teaming under the TIGER+ operational framework.
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The K-CEV, based on the K21 infantry fighting vehicle, supports both manned and unmanned operations with an AI-powered remote weapon station that mounts a 12.7 mm K6 heavy machine gun and a 40 mm K4 automatic grenade launcher. (Picture source: South Korean Army)

Conducted at the Yangpyeong General Training Ground in Gyeonggi Province, this live-fire operational training formed part of the South Korean Army’s transition toward AI-enabled, manned-unmanned integrated combat formations aligned with the Army TIGER+ concept, in response to manpower reductions and evolving battlefield conditions. The drill involved real maneuver and live-fire activities centered on obstacle breaching, threat reconnaissance, and controlled troop insertion after risk reduction. The operational concept places unmanned systems in the lead in contact or uncertain environments, with personnel committed only after reconnaissance, suppression, and verification phases are completed.

The K-CEV is based on the K21 infantry fighting vehicle chassis and has been developed by Hanwha Aerospace under a rapid research and development program valued at KRW 33.827 billion (roughly $23.7 million). The vehicle features a reinforced frame and additional armor compared with the K21, and supports both manned and unmanned operations depending on mission requirements. It integrates an AI-based battlefield awareness system, a composite remote-controlled weapon station, a 360-degree situational awareness device, reconnaissance drones, and an explosive ordnance disposal robot into a single combat engineering configuration. An external structure mounted behind the hull functions as a drone containment and deployment unit, and footage from the program has shown an unmanned interior configuration for remote missions. The remote-control range for hull and weapon operation exceeds 1 km under line-of-sight conditions.

The K-CEV’s composite remote weapon station mounts a 12.7 mm K6 heavy machine gun and a 40 mm K4 high-speed automatic grenade launcher, both linked to AI-based automatic target detection and engagement functions. Protection levels include resistance to 30 mm cannon fire in accordance with STANAG Level 6 and mine protection at Level 3a and Level 3b. The engineering mission set covers minefield lane opening, obstacle removal, and mobility corridor securing, supported by equipment such as an excavator arm or mine-clearing plow. The crew configuration consists of three core crew members, driver, commander, and gunner, with space for four combat engineers in crewed mode. The system is part of a broader effort globally that includes the conversion of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers, and rocket systems into remotely operated or unmanned firepower assets.

Unmanned mission equipment for the K-CEV also includes a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) reconnaissance drone deployed from the vehicle's rear section to scout forward routes. The BREVIS explosive ordnance detection and disposal robot, developed by the Agency for Defense Development, uses 3D ground-penetrating radar to detect metallic and non-metallic mines and improvised explosive devices. The robot is equipped with tools, including X-ray inspection capability, grippers, cutters, a water disruptor, and a shotgun for neutralization tasks, and can also create openings through walls when required. The system architecture supports continuous video transmission to operators positioned in rear areas, enabling remote assessment before movement into hazardous zones. The pilot-operational framework involves 12 equipment categories totaling 31 vehicles and about 150 personnel within the 11th Maneuver Division.

The February 26 exercise began with the launch of eight short-range reconnaissance drones to monitor and scout the objective area, including four loitering munitions configured for immediate strike upon target identification. The scenario assumed enemy obstacles and ambush positions east of a reservoir and defensive positions concealed in wooded terrain to the west. Drones identified obstacles and threat elements, after which supporting fire assets, including K21 IFVs and mortars, engaged designated targets. A second drone sortie conducted a battle damage assessment and confirmed whether residual threats remained before engineer elements advanced. This sequence established the reconnaissance-suppression-verification cycle prior to obstacle breaching.

Following the initial suppression phase, the K-CEV led an unmanned forward reconnaissance element into the obstacle belt. A reconnaissance drone mounted on the vehicle scouted adjacent terrain while the 360-degree situational awareness system scanned for threats in real time, transmitting imagery to operators in rear positions. The AI-enabled remote weapon station automatically identified hostile targets near the obstacle zone, and remote operators directed suppressive fire with the K4 and K6 weapons. The vehicle then deployed its explosive ordnance disposal robot to inspect the intended breach lane for mine emplacement, replacing legacy procedures that required manual clearance under fire. The adoption of the unmanned breaching approach is expected to reduce operation time by more than 50 percent while limiting personnel casualties compared with previous methods.

After confirmation of the lane, a K600 Rhino combat engineer tank entered to open a physical passage through the impeded area, and an unmanned ground reconnaissance vehicle conducted detailed forward scanning along the cleared route. Additional remote engagements using the remote weapon station and micro loitering munitions eliminated concealed targets that remained after initial suppression. Only after the corridor was assessed as secure did a breakthrough platoon advance through the cleared lane to continue the assault. The six-month field pilot phase will determine whether to proceed with production of up to 150 K-CEV vehicles, potentially replacing aging K711 5-ton trucks and K200A1 armored vehicles in engineer units. Further training and combat experimentation across varied environments will be used to refine procedures within the South Korean Army TIGER+ framework.

The TIGER+ concept is the South Korean Army’s new operational transformation framework that integrates artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, networked sensors, and digital command and control into combat formations to address manpower decline and future battlefield requirements. South Korea’s overall active duty military has encountered a roughly 20 percent drop over six years, with about 450,000 troops in 2025, while projections indicate a further decrease to around 290,000 in 2030, 260,000 in 2035, and about 270,000 total force by 2040 if current trends continue. Therefore, under TIGER+, the Army plans to replace portions of traditional personnel tasks with automated detection, analysis, and engagement capabilities, using AI-enhanced surveillance to reduce false alarms, accelerate sensor-to-shooter cycles, and optimize response procedures in perimeter and forward operations, while reducing static guard force size compared with legacy systems. The initiative builds on the earlier Tiger experimentation, which tested, within the 25th Infantry Division, manned-unmanned operations that leverage AI, drones, ground robots, and other unmanned assets.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.