K1/A1 MAIN BATTLE TANK, SOUTH KOREA
Hyundai has developed the K1 series of vehicles, which includes the
K1A1 120mm main battle tank, the K1 105mm main battle tank, K1 ARV
armoured recovery vehicle, and the K1 AVLB Armoured Vehicle Launch
Bridge. The vehicles are built at Hyundai Precision and Industry
Company Ltd (HDPIC) automated production facility at
ChangWon.
The first two prototypes of the K1A1 successfully completed
operational tests in 1997 and the tank is in production and in
service with Republic of Korea Army. Total requirement is for about
300 K1A1 tanks, scheduled to be in service by 2010.
K1/A1 MAIN BATTLE TANK
The K1A1 is an upgraded version of the K1 MBT. Its firing range is
enhanced by a 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, together with an improved
gun and turret drive system. The M256 gun is also installed on the
US M1A1/2 main battle tanks. A new ballistic computer for 120mm
munitions has higher processing capacity and speed.
Samsung Electronics, now Samsung Thales, are providing the fire
control system including the Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight
(KCPS) which includes a thermal imager with 288 x 4 focal plane
array, KGPS gunners sight with thermal imager, eyesafe laser
rangefinder and dual field of view day TV camera and KBCS ballistic
fire control computer.
The race ring turret bearing provides improved sealing for fording
and turret slewing characteristics. The fire suppression system has
been equipped with a thermal wire fire sensor in the engine
bay.
K1/A1 MAIN BATTLE TANK
The K1 has been operational in the RoK Army since 1986 and is known
as the Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank or ROKIT. Following early
design work based on US M1 technology, the K1 tank was designed and
produced by Korea. The manoeuvrability of the tank is optimised for
the varied geographical features of Korea, which include
mountainous terrain, jungle, paddy fields and swamp.
The main gun is a 105mm rifled high velocity cannon with a coaxial
7.62mm machine gun. The commander's station is equipped with a 50
calibre machine gun and the loader's station with a 7.62mm machine
gun. The turret slews at 750 mil/second and elevates and depresses
at 400 mil/second.
The commander's panoramic sight has three modes of operation: align
with the main armament, independent tracking and gunner override.
The commander has the option of handing off the target to the
gunner or of slaving the gun to the commander's sight and
initiating the fire. The K1 has demonstrated a first round hit
probability of greater than 90% when firing on the move at a moving
target.
The Raytheon Gunner's Primary Sight Subsystem (GPSS) is stabilised
in two axes and includes a thermal imager and laser rangefinder.
The gunner's ballistic computer automatically downloads crosswind
data, vehicle cant, azimuth tracking rate and range. The gunner
manually inputs data for air pressure, air temperature, barrel
wear, barrel droop and ammunition type.
K1/A1 PROPULSION
The Kl is equipped with a turbo-charged 1,200hp MTU MB 871 diesel
engine providing a power to weight ratio of 23.5hp/t. The
transmission has a planetary gear train and a hydrodynamic torque
converter. In high gear, the Kl can attain a maximum road speed of
approximately 65km/h. The low ground pressure of 0.87kg/cm² enables
it to successfully manoeuvre in sodden or sandy terrain.
The Kl has hydro-pneumatic suspension and torsion bar springs. The
suspension system also provides vehicle attitude control or
"kneeling" capability, which increases the main gun depression
angle to a maximum of minus 10°.
K1/A1 FAMILY OF VEHICLES
The Kl Armoured Recovery Vehicle has a crane system with the
ability to lift up to 25t, while the main winch system is capable
of towing a maximum of 70t with a guide pulley.
The Kl Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge can launch and retrieve its
22m-long bridge to span gaps up to 20.5m, allowing a 60t (MLC 66)
vehicle to cross. It takes only 3 to 5 minutes for launching and 10
minutes for retrieving the bridge.
The Mine Clearing Roller System can be installed to detect and
detonate land mines. It is capable of clearing pressure mines at a
rate of 16km/h.
