Gotta love 'dem tanks

Sometimes the purely massive size of a tank just impresses me.

S. Korea develops advanced infantry fighting vehicle
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea unveiled a prototype of an advanced armored vehicle equipped with guided anti-tank missiles, a large-caliber gun and a laser warning system, a state-run institute said Tuesday.

The infantry fighting vehicle that is expected to reach frontline armored units of the South Korean military, starting in 2008, is part of a broader arms buildup program, said Choi Chang-kon, a researcher at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD).

The vehicle that can accommodate 12 troops is armed with such sophisticated weapons systems as anti-tank "fire-and-forget" missiles, a 40mm automatic main gun and co-axial 7.62mm machine guns, the researcher said in a press briefing.He added that the main gun will permit the next-generation vehicle to engage most armored personnel carriers and even helicopters at some distances.The K200 armored personal carrier, currently being used by South Korea, is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun and is designed primarily to deal with "soft-skinned" vehicles like trucks and close-range aerial defense.

The vehicle is also amphibious and equipped with a "friend or foe" identification system, a laser warning system, ultraviolet sensors and other high-tech systems, Choi said."We expect this to be the world's best armored vehicle, superior to the U.S. M2 Bradley and Russia's BMP-3," he said.Choi said the new armored vehicle will be cheaper and lighter than its foreign counterparts. The South Korean vehicle will cost US$2.5 million and weigh 25 tons, while the M2 Bradley costs $4.5 million and weighs 33 tons, he added.

The South Korean armored vehicle is capable of moving at a maximum speed of 70 kilometers an hour on paved roads, 40 km/h on off-road surfaces and propel itself at 6 km/h in water, he said."We can export the vehicle to Middle Eastern and Central and South American countries. It has export competitiveness," Choi said.South Korea has spent 91 billion won ($90.2 million) since 1999to produce the vehicle, he said.The ADD is expected to hold an official unveiling ceremony for the three prototypes of the new vehicle on Thursday in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.

I'm impressed. The thing is, I wish they'd show a pic with more than just one. Something like this...