Basic Information

Name

K1A1 South Korean Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Designation

K1A1

Alternate Designation

K1A1

Equipment Type

Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer

Hyundai Rotem

Date of Introduction

2001

Description

The K1A1, an upgraded version of the K1 MBT, was accepted into Korean service on 13 October 2001, after the first one was produced on 3 April 1996. The KM68 main gun has been replaced with the KM256 120 mm main gun (a licensed production model of the U.S. M256 which, in turn, is a licensed production model of the Rheinmetall L44) which nearly doubled the penetration power of the original vehicle. In addition, its fire control system, thermal sights, LASER rangefinder, turret and gun stabilization and armor have been improved, giving the vehicle greater survivability and lethality. The improved armor is called 'Korean Special Armour Plate (KSAP)'. The weight of the vehicle has increased along with the upgrade, and has slightly lowered its power-to-weight ratio and speed, the former of which was considered already too low for the rough Korean terrain by some critics. The K1A1 can easily be distinguished from the K1 by the shape of the gun, location of the co-axial machinegun, shape of the commander's panoramic sight, and overall angular shape of the turret (the K1A1 has more curved surfaces than the K1). The 120 mm smoothbore gun of K1A1 is thicker than the K1's 105 mm rifled gun and has a thicker thermal sleeve a third of the way from the base of the gun. The co-axial machinegun on K1A1 is located at a much higher point compared to the K1. The K1A1 also features a somewhat cone-shaped day/night KGPS compared to day-only sight of the K1, which has a plain, tube-like appearance to it. The ROK Army intends to standardize its K1 fleet by procuring 700 new-production K1A1 tanks while upgrading some 1,000 older-model K1s to the K1A1 configuration.

Ground Specifications

Crew 4

Engine 1,934-cu in (31.7-liter) liquid-cooled, 8-cyl, multifuel diesel (1200 hp)

Range 500.0 km

Variants

XK1 Experimental model under the ROKIT (Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank) project.

K1 First production variant. 1,027 units built between 1985 and 1998. To be upgraded to K1E1 by 2026.

K1M Proposed export variant for Malaysia. In 1997, Malaysia expressed great interest in obtaining the K1, and the ROK responded by showing them the concept for K1M, which had several features not present in the baseline K1, including a laser warning system and an air conditioning unit. It was to weigh 49.7 tons, while the total ammunition capacity would have been reduced to 41 rounds. The ROK offered a contract for 210 K1M's, but Malaysia responded that it was too many, and chose to go with Polish PT-91M in 2003.

K1 PIP Upgraded K1. PIP includes changes in SAP to KSAP, GPS to GPTTS, and Nd-Yag to CO2 rangefinder.

K1E1 Further upgraded K1. Production began in December 2013, and the first K1E1 rolled out on 7 July 2014. The upgrade will be similar to that of K1A2. All K1 will be upgraded to K1E1 by 2026.[9] The name was inherited from the K1A1 prototype, the K1E1.

K1E2 As of August 2018, the K1E2 type is planned to be improved. It is expected to be upgraded to a large-scale repair (renovation) in 2024. The main improvement point is the replacement of the new armored upgrading of the protection, installation of the positive pressure device, acceleration of 10% upgrade (1200 hp engine to 1320 hp) or change 1500 hp engine, Introduction of RWS, etc.

K1A1 First major enhanced variant. 484 units built between 1999 and 2010. To be upgraded to K1A2 by 2022.

K1A2 Upgraded K1A1. Originally named as K1A1 PIP. Developed from 2008 to 2010, and mass-production started in 2012. First upgraded vehicle was rolled out on 20 December 2013. Technology benefit from K2 Black Panther has been applied to this model. Upgrades include buoyancy tubes, automatic commanding control with identification friend or foe, GPS and INS position recognition, and digital wireless communications and displays. It also has air conditioning and a soft-kill active protection system to defend against missiles and rockets. The K1A2 project provides upgrade kits for South Korean Army and Marines Corps K1 and K1A1 tanks. All K1A1 will be upgraded to K1A2 by 2022.

K1 ARV The K1 Armored Recovery Vehicle is based on the K1 tank. It has a crane, winch and dozer system built on the vehicle. It was developed with assistance from Krupp Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH (now Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH) between 1988 and 1992, with first deployment in 1993.

K1 AVLB The K1 Armored Vehicle-Launched Bridge variant uses a scissor-type bridge system mounted on the chassis. It was developed from 1988 to 1992 with help from Vickers Defense Systems

K1 CEV The K1 Combat Engineer Vehicle is based on the K1A1/A2 chassis, mounting a mine plough, an excavator arm on the right side, and a lane marking system. Development is expected to be completed in June 2018 and begin production in 2019.

System

Alternative Designation K1A1

Type Main Battle Tank (MBT)

Manufacturer Hyundai Rotem

Crew 4 (commander, driver, gunner, loader)

Note It is expected that the K1A1 will be produced by up-gunning already existing tanks.

Dimensions

Hull Length 7.48 m

Length, Gun Forward 9.67 m

Width 3.59 m

Height 2.25 m

Combat Weight 53,200 kg

Ground Clearance 460 mm

Ground Pressure 0.87 kg/sq cm

Automotive

Engine Name 1 x MTU MB871

Engine Type 1,934-cu in (31.7-liter) liquid-cooled, 8-cyl, multifuel diesel

Engine Power 1,200 hp at 2,600 rpm

Power-to-Weight Ratio 22.63 hp/metric ton

Transmission ZF LSG 3000 automatic transmission w/mechanical lock-up and 4 forward/2 reverse gears

Suspension Hybrid (torsion bar at wheel stations 3, 4 and 5 and hydro-pneumatic units at wheel stations 1, 2 and 6); 6 road wheels with 19.7-in (500-mm) travel

Maximum Road Speed 65 kph

Cross-Country Speed 40 kph

Maximum Range 500 km

Vertical Obstacle 1.1 m

Trench 2.7 m

Fording without Preparation 1.2 m

Fording with Preparation 2.2 m

Gradient 60 percent

Side Slope 30 percent

Main Weapon System

System

Name 1 x M256

Type Rheinmetall Smoothbore Gun

Caliber 120mm

Length 5.28 m

Barrel length 44–55 calibers

Weight 1,190 kg Gun barrel 3,317 kg Gun mount

Rate of Fire 10 rounds per minute (maximum)

Effective Firing Range 4,000 meters with DM63 8,000 meters with LAHAT

Breech he breech mechanism is a semi-automatic sliding wedge design. The breechblock contains the electrical contact firing mechanism and circuitry needed to send the electrical signal to the firing mechanism probe, which comes in contact with the ammunition cartridge primer.

Fume Extractor Yes

Thermal Sleeve Yes

Muzzle Reference System Yes

Muzzle Velocity 1,750 m/s

Elevation -7 deg to 20 deg (when the tank is pitched forward the gun can reportedly be depressed to -10 deg

Traverse 360 deg

Ammunition

Name K276

Type APFSDS-T

Caliber 120 mm

Carriage INA

Basic Load 31 Rounds

Armor Penetration INA

Additional Chemical Energy Projectiles K277 and K280

Additional APFSDS-T Projectiles K279

RHA Penetration 650mm at 2 km

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name M60E1

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Quantity 1

Manufacturer Saco Defense

Length 1,105 mm

Barrel Length 560 mm

Weight 10.5 kg

Action Gas-operated, short-stroke gas piston, open bolt

Rate of Fire 550–650 RPM

Muzzle Velocity 853 m/s

Effective Firing Range 1,100 m

Feed System Disintegrating belt with M13 Links

Sights Iron sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO

Basic Load INA

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name K6

Type Heavy Machine Gun

Caliber 12.7 mm

Quantity 1

Manufacturer Daewoo

Length 1,654 mm

Barrel Length 1,143 mm

Action Short recoil-operated

Rate of Fire 1,200–1,300 rounds/min

Muzzle Velocity 890 m/s

Maximum Firing Range 7,400 m

Effective Firing Range 1,800 m

Feed System Belt-fed

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 12.7mm

Cartridge .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)

Basic Load INA

Fire Control System

Name INA

Computerized FCS Yes

Main Gun Stabilization Yes

Direct Fire Yes

Indirect Fire Yes

Commander's Panoramic Sight The commander is provided with a Sagem (formerly SFIM) two-axis, independent, stabilized 360-deg panoramic sight, which has 3x and 10x magnification

Thermal Sights Yes

Laser Rangefinder Yes, with a Range of 200-7,990 m

Protection

Hull Armor The improved armor is called 'Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP)'

Turret Armor The improved armor is called 'Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP)' is fitted over the frontal arc, turret front and sides. This provides protection against both kinetic and chemical energy attacks.

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor INA

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade Yes

NBC Protection collective: M13A1 gas-particulate filter

Smoke Equipment 2 x 6 smoke grenade launchers on either side of turret

Image Sources

Notes http://kjfaero.com/?page_id=12152; https://www.facebook.com/lalshankarguard/; https://fighting-vehicles.com/tanks/k1a1-tank/;