Daewoo Precision Industries K1

The Daewoo Precision Industries K1/K1A is a South Korean selective-fire assault rifle developed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries (now SNT Motiv)[2] and Dasan Machineries (since 2016). It entered service in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981. Although the K1 uses .223 Remington, it is classified as a submachine gun by the South Korean military and the manufacturer,[3] because the K1 was intended to replace the M3 submachine gun.

Daewoo Precision Industries K1A
Daewoo Precision Industries K1A
TypeAssault rifle
Carbine
Place of originRepublic of Korea
Service history
In service1981–present
Used bySee Users
WarsPersian Gulf War
War in Afghanistan[1]
Iraq War[1]
Production history
DesignerAgency for Defense Development
Daewoo Precision Industries
Designed1977–1982
ManufacturerArsenal of National Defense (1980-1981)
Daewoo Precision Industries (1981-1999)
Daewoo Telecom (1999-2002)
Daewoo Precision (2002-2006)
S&T Daewoo (2006-2012)
S&T Motiv (2012-2021)
SNT Motiv (2021-present)
Dasan Machineries (2016-present)
Produced1980–present
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass2.87 kg (6.3 lb) (w/o magazine)
Length838 mm (33.0 in) (stock extended)
653 mm (25.7 in) (stock retracted)
Barrel length263 mm (10.4in)
Cartridge.223 Remington (pre 2014 production)
5.56×45mm NATO (post 2014 production)
Caliber5.56 mm
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement)
Rate of fire750-900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) (KM193)
790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) (K100)
Effective firing range250 m (KM193)
400 m (K100)
Feed systemVarious STANAG magazines.
SightsIron sights

Development

In 1976, the ROKA Special Warfare Command requested a new weapon to replace the old M3 submachine gun. In the following year, ADD launched a project derived from the XB rifle, which started in 1972 to replace licensed M16A1s with indigenous weapons. Under the demands of the ROKASWC, the new submachine gun must acquire greater firepower, light weight, cost effectiveness, and easy access to spare parts. The first prototypes were made in 1980, and entered service in 1981 after series of field test.

But due to the design of its flash suppressor, the K1 exhibited serious problems in service with the ROK armed forces. The original version had excessive recoil, noise, flash, and weak stock due to increase in firepower. These problems caused difficulty in aiming especially during night operation.

These shortcomings were later fixed by the development and adoption of a new flash suppressor, which has three holes in the top right quadrant to limit muzzle flip under rapid fire and reduces flash to one-third of that of the early K1. This new version of K1 is known as the K1A and its production began in 1982. All K1 submachine guns in service were subsequently modified to the K1A standard.

The K1A is often mated with the PVS-4K rail integration system. It is seen as a potential candidate for the "Warrior Platform", a Korean next-generation infantry project.[4]

Since 2014, newly produced and repaired K1A received new barrel suited for firing 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition.

Differences

Most of the time, K1 submachine gun is regarded as a shortened or carbine version of Daewoo Precision Industries K2 assault rifle. However, although the two guns share development history they are very different from each other for the following reasons:

The carbine version of K2 named K2C was developed and shown to the public in 2012 by S&T Motiv.

Variants
  • XK1: Experimental prototype.
  • K1: First mass-produced variant. Every K1 has been modified to K1A standard.
  • K1A: Second mass-produced enhanced variant.
    • MAX-1: Semi-automatic version of K1A for civilian market for .223 Remington.[6]
    • K1A1: Civilian version of K1A with longer barrel for 5.56x45mm NATO.

Users

Future replacement

The S&T Motiv K2C, an upgraded carbine version of the K2 rifle, was provided to the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command for trial. After a series of tests, K2C was rejected. Instead, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces launched a competition for replacing K1A with new rifle.

On 13 June 2020, the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command announced that the DSAR15PC had been selected as its new service carbine to replace the K1A carbine. The DSAR15P is based on the CAR 816 and other AR-15 platforms, with the carbine version having an 11.5 in (290 mm) barrel and weighing 3 kg (6.6 lb). 1,000 carbines will initially be delivered to gather user feedback, with 15,000 to be delivered by 2023.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. "201003140001071.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  2. "Business Outline, Defense Business". S&T Daewoo. Archived from the original on 2010-02-06. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
  3. "E-Catalog" (PDF).
  4. "Show Report: DX Korea 2018". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  5. "Daewoo K1". Rifles n Guns. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  6. "Daewoo K2 assault rifle and K1 assault carbine". Archived from the original on 2008-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  7. "캄보디아 군대가 도입한 한국제군장비".
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.smallarmssurvey.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "[S&T모티브] 국군 소총 국산화 이어 중동·중남미 등 수출도".
  10. "ID No. 195149". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2012-11-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. South Korea Special Forces select Dasan Machineries DSAR15P as future assault rifle. Army Recognition. 16 June 2020.
  12. South Korea Selects DSAR-15PC Carbine for RoKA’s Special Warfare Command. The Firearm Blog. 18 June 2020.
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