Hanwha, Cendana win deal to upgrade Malaysian K200 IFVs

Hanwha Aerospace and Cendana Auto displayed a model of their proposed upgraded K200 IFV at the DSA 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur in May. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)

South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace and Malaysian firm Cendana Auto have signed a contract to upgrade the Malaysian Army's K200 tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).

Hanwha Aerospace confirmed to Janes on 9 August that under the new agreement, which was signed in early August, the companies will develop a new K200 prototype for evaluation and trials.

Following verification, the upgrade programme will expand to include all K200 vehicles in service with the Malaysian Army. Hanwha Aerospace did not disclose the value of the deal.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the contract and associated technology transfers will support the development of the country's armoured vehicle maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capability.

A Hanwha Aerospace spokesperson told Janes , “We will commence work [on the contract] immediately. However, we cannot disclose a specific timeline at this moment. After undergoing sufficient testing processes, [the programme] is planned to be expanded to all K200s possessed by the Malaysian military.”

Images issued by Hanwha Aerospace indicate that the upgrade will integrate onto Malaysia's K200 new day/thermal optics, a new remote-control weapon station (RCWS), and an upgraded powerpack.

Hanwha Aerospace declined to provide details about the specific products to be integrated onto the vehicle but said work under the contract will be carried out by Cendana Auto, which is headquartered in Putrajaya.

In May at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Hanwha Aerospace and Cendana Auto signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to bid for the Malaysian K200 upgrade programme.

At the exhibition Hanwha Aerospace told Janes