Armored Vehicles

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle

The Kia KLTV is a South Korean 4x4 light tactical vehicle family built for protected mobility, command, reconnaissance, cargo, and weapon-carrier roles. Nigeria received KLTV/K152 armored personnel carrier variants during its post-2015 re-equipment drive, with direct reporting placing a KLTV-181 in the Boko Haram Insurgency after an ISWAP ambush in northeast Nigeria.

Boko Haram InsurgencyNigerian government and allied forces

Conflict side: Nigerian government and allied forces
Built by: Kia Corporation
Built in: South Korea

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle, 4x4 light tactical / infantry mobility vehicle, Armored Vehicles

Image source: Philippine Army Raycolt KLTV.jpg

Profile

Type: 4x4 light tactical / infantry mobility vehicle
Conflict side: Nigerian government and allied forces
Origin: South Korea
Service note: 2016-present production; documented Nigerian service from 2020

wheeled APC protected mobility

Service History

In service: In production from 2016; Nigerian Army induction reported in 2020
Used by: Nigerian Army
Wars: Boko Haram Insurgency

Production History

Designer: Kia Corporation
Designed: Early 2010s; public debut in 2015
Built by: Kia Corporation
Built in: South Korea
Produced: 2016-present
Variants: KLTV181 / K152 bulletproof personnel carrier, KLTV141 / K151 bulletproof command vehicle, KLTV182 / K153 bulletproof reconnaissance vehicle, Weapon carrier and remote-control weapon-carrier variants

Specifications

Configuration: 4x4 modular light tactical vehicle family with standard and long-wheelbase variants
Engine: 2,959 cc V6 diesel rated at 225 ps and 51 kgf.m of torque
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Maximum speed: 130 km/h
Cruising range: About 570-730 km depending on variant
Ground clearance: 405 mm
Fording depth: 760 mm
Protection: Detachable protection kit for firearms, shell fragments, and mine threats; armored-cabin variants include bullet-resistant glass and blast-absorbing seats

Conflict Usage

Boko Haram Insurgency: Side: Nigerian government and allied forcesRole: Protected troop mobility and patrol supportprotected mobility
Nigerian Army Kia KLTV-181/K152 vehicles were fielded in the northeast counter-insurgency theatre; HumAngle reported one newly inducted vehicle captured or destroyed after an ISWAP ambush in the Alagarno-Timbuktu Triangle area in December 2020.

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle Images

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle, 4x4 light tactical / infantry mobility vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 1 — Source: Philippine Army Raycolt KLTV.jpg

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle, 4x4 light tactical / infantry mobility vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 2 — Source: Kia KLTV at ADAS 2018.jpg

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle, 4x4 light tactical / infantry mobility vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 3 — Source: K153 Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle.jpg

KLTV infantry mobility vehicle, 4x4 light tactical / infantry mobility vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 4 — Source: KLTV Legwan-L MSPO.jpg

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Sources

KLTV SeriesPublisher: Kia Special Vehicle | Note: Supports manufacturer background, product-line variants, mobility, protection, and specification data for the KLTV family. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Nigerian army gets South Korean K152 APCsPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports Nigerian Army K152/KLTV armored personnel carrier background and identifies K152 as the armored KLTV variant. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Nigerian Army reveals new acquisitionsPublisher: defenceWeb | Note: Supports Nigerian Army receipt of South Korean Kia Light Tactical Vehicle armored personnel carriers in 2020. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 ISWAP Captures Newly Inducted Nigerian Army Armoured VehiclePublisher: HumAngle | Note: Supports Boko Haram Insurgency direct conflict use: a Kia KLTV-181 was fielded by the Nigerian Army and captured or destroyed after an ISWAP ambush in the Alagarno-Timbuktu Triangle area. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 400 armoured vehicles for NigeriaPublisher: Military Africa | Note: Supports Boko Haram Insurgency direct conflict use: Kia Light Tactical Vehicle armored personnel carriers were fielded by Nigerian forces as part of protected-mobility imports for CT/COIN operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Philippine Army Raycolt KLTV.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing page for the primary KLTV image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Kia KLTV at ADAS 2018.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a KLTV displayed at ADAS 2018. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 K153 Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain licensing page for a KLTV-family K153 reconnaissance vehicle. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 KLTV Legwan-L MSPO.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a lengthened KLTV-family Legwan-L variant. | Accessed: 2026-06-21