General Dynamics Land Systems ( GDLS ) is a manufacturer of military vehicles, including tanks and light armored fighting vehicles . The company is based in Sterling Heights, Michigan , and is a subsidiary of General Dynamics .
139-529: The K1 , also known as Type 88 by American engineers, is a South Korean main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (later General Dynamics Land Systems ) and Hyundai Precision Industry (later Hyundai Rotem ) for the Republic of Korea Armed Forces . The vehicle's design was based on technology from Chrysler's M1 Abrams , tailored to meet the ROK's unique requirements. The K1A1 is an up-gunned variant with
278-438: A 120 mm 44 caliber smoothbore gun, and outfitted with more modern electronics, ballistic computers, fire control systems, and armor. Hyundai Rotem produced 1,511 K1 and K1A1 tanks between 1986 and 2011. In the early 1970s, South Korea received an intelligence report about North Korea locally producing Soviet T-62 tanks. Meanwhile, the U.S. 7th Infantry Division began withdrawing from South Korea from 1969 to 1971 under
417-505: A "heavy" tank for assaulting fixed positions, was redesigned during the war with armour and gun upgrades to allow it to take on anti-tank roles as well, and was reclassified as a medium tank. The second half of World War II saw an increased reliance on general-purpose medium tanks, which became the bulk of the tank combat forces. Generally, these designs massed about 25–30 t (25–30 long tons; 28–33 short tons), were armed with cannons around 75 mm (3.0 in), and powered by engines in
556-407: A 1,250 hp variant of Russian domestic specification T-80Us along with Kontakt-5 ERAs, and T-80Us contributed to developing Korean domestic ERAs and enhancing armor technology. Therefore, based on the available sources, K1A1 is fitted with domestic armor, in which the technology has influence from American M1 Abrams and Russian T-80U, and ERAs are located behind the outer shell of the tank. Both
695-450: A 120 mm KM256 smoothbore (32 rounds), which is produced under license by Hyundai Precision Industry (now Hyundai WIA ), mounted on the domestically upgraded turret. In addition, South Korea began to deploy K276 120 mm armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) ammunition with the most sophisticated tungsten heavy alloy penetrators during that time, created after several technological breakthroughs that were new to
834-453: A 360º view of the tank's surroundings onto crew helmet-mounted displays or other display systems. MBTs, like previous models of tanks, move on continuous tracks , which allow a decent level of mobility over most terrain including sand and mud. They also allow tanks to climb over most obstacles. MBTs can be made water-tight, so they can even dive into shallow water (5 m (16 ft) with snorkel). However, tracks are not as fast as wheels;
973-528: A Fleet Management Services office in Southbank, Melbourne. In 2003 GDLS acquired Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug GmbH (SSF), the land defense vehicles unit of Steyr-Daimler-Puch , and General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada (GDLS-C), a subsidiary of General Dynamics based in London, Ontario , purchased General Motors Diesel , GM Defense unit from General Motors . At the time, it produced vehicles such as
1112-416: A burden on tactics, training, support and maintenance. The MBT has a positive morale effect on the infantry it accompanies. It also instills fear in the opposing force who can often hear and even feel their arrival. General Dynamics Land Systems It was originally established in 1982 following the acquisition of Chrysler Defense . GDLS is known for developing and manufacturing vehicles such as
1251-552: A condition for recalling all vehicles if found to be manufacturer's fault, due to changes in national security situation . In April 2011, the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, which conducted durability tests of the K1A1 tank since June 2010, concluded that the right output bearing and fan housing were damaged during the basic steering durability test due to a design defect in the transmission itself. On 31 March 2011,
1390-592: A daytime optical device for day and night observation and a laser rangefinder that measures the range of the captured target. The sharpness and magnification of the thermal imager and daytime optical system have been increased, making it possible to observe and identify the target from a greater distance. In particular, the screen display method of the thermal imager has been improved for enhanced night combat capability. The laser rangefinder uses an eye-safe Raman laser, which gives excellent distance measurement ability while providing crew safety during crew training. In addition,
1529-483: A domestic tank and personally summoned Chung Ju-yung , the founder of Hyundai Group , to recommend building a tank factory. Chung Ju-yung, thinking that the president asked for a train factory, promised to build one. The chairman was shocked after learning about his misunderstanding from the president's secretary as he was leaving the building. Not satisfied with the M48 Patton upgrade, South Korea began looking for
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#17327795635541668-406: A dual role, able to engage other armoured targets such as tanks and fortifications, and soft targets such as light vehicles and infantry. It is fixed to the turret, along with the loading and fire mechanism. Modern tanks use a sophisticated fire-control system , including rangefinders , computerized fire control, and stabilizers, which are designed to keep the cannon stable and aimed even if the hull
1807-463: A farther distance and have higher penetration compared to a 105 mm rifled cannon. Therefore, South Korean government requested the ADD to make a new tank equipped with a 120 mm cannon. In 1988, the ADD launched exploration development, and began official system development with Hyundai Precision Industry in 1991. The ADD and Hyundai submitted a plan to redesign the tank by replacing most parts with
1946-401: A high level of self-protection, and which is not designed and equipped primarily to transport combat troops." Originally, most MBTs relied on steel armour to defend against various threats. As newer threats emerged, however, the defensive systems used by MBTs had to evolve to counter them. One of the first new developments was the use of explosive reactive armour (ERA), developed by Israel in
2085-605: A human to load. This reduces the silhouette which improves the MBT's target profile. However, with a manual loader, the rounds can be isolated within a blowout chamber, rather than a magazine within the turret, which could improve crew survivability. However, the force of a modern depleted uranium APFSDS round at the muzzle can exceed 6000 kN (a rough estimate, considering a uranium 60 cm/2 cm rod, 19g/cm , @ 1,750 m/s). Composite+reactive armour could withstand this kind of force through its deflection and deformation, but with
2224-581: A hunter-killer ability that allows tank crews to engage multiple targets at once by allowing the commander to search 360 degrees and direct the main gun. The hunter-killer feature was a major difference compared to the M1 Abrams, where it only becomes available with the M1A2 upgrade. The commander's sight was not, however, equipped with light amplification or thermal optics, which led to the commander to rely on personal night vision goggles for night operation, while
2363-453: A joint venture with each company investing and holding 50% of the shares. Thomson-CSF will receive technology transfer of Samsung's defense products such as communication equipment, satellite communication systems, and terminals, fire control systems, detection and tracking devices, radar guidance equipment, and gunner's sight (KGPS), while Samsung will gain access to Thomson-CSF's network for overseas exports. In February 2000, Samsung Thomson-CSF
2502-455: A maximum speed of 65 km/h on paved roads and 40 km/h cross-country with a 500 km cruising range. Its chassis uses hybrid suspension combining hydropneumatic suspension on wheels 1, 2, and 6 and torsion bars on wheels 3, 4, and 5. It allows the tank to use kneeling to supplement the depression of the main gun, which is limited by the small-sized turret to -10 degrees, and provides comfort on rough terrains. For comparison, M1 Abrams
2641-651: A new tank based on the newest M1 Abrams. Eventually, the American design was chosen, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on 6 July 1978 to supply two prototypes, and the executive contract was signed on 1 December 1978. Between 1979 and 1980, several MOUs were signed between the two nations, mostly regarding intellectual rights and royalty payments. According to the MOUs, the United States would provide its state-of-art Special Armor Package (SAP), in which
2780-655: A new tank that could overwhelm every North Korean counterpart, as the existence of the T-62 and its manufacturing facility were confirmed by satellite images in 1976. South Korea first asked Chrysler Defense for a solution to acquire a better tank, and Chrysler suggested purchasing the M60A3 or producing it in South Korea. Because the American offer was an outdated design, South Korea then contacted KraussMaffei of West Germany to receive technical assistance, and KraussMaffei offered
2919-678: A new universal tank was rendered unnecessary. The Centurion, entering service just as World War II finished, was a multi-role tank that subsequently formed the main armoured element of the British Army of the Rhine , the armed forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth forces, and subsequently many other nations through exports, whose cost was met largely by the US. The introduction of the 84 mm (3.3 in) 20-pounder gun in 1948 gave
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#17327795635543058-548: A program to develop unmanned versions of the K1 tank and K9 Thunder . Hyundai Rotem was contracted to develop the unmanned tank by 2024. Background: History of the tank , Tank classification , Tanks in the Cold War Background: History of the tank , Tank classification Main battle tank A main battle tank ( MBT ), also known as a battle tank or universal tank , is a tank that fills
3197-547: A round exploded in the barrel of a K1's 105 mm gun, destroying the gun but leaving the crew uninjured. It was the ninth incident since the operation of the K1 tanks: 1985 (1, XK1), 1987 (2), 1991 (1), 1994 (1), 2002 (1), 2009 (2), and 2010 (1), of which the previous eight were caused by foreign substances within the barrel according to the Agency for Defense Development, the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, and
3336-535: A second hit in the same area, an armour breach is inevitable. As such, the speed of follow up shots is crucial within tank to tank combat. As secondary weapons, an MBT usually uses between two and four machine guns to engage infantry and light vehicles. Many MBTs mount one heavy caliber anti-aircraft machine gun (AAMG), usually of .50 caliber (like the M2 Browning or DShK ), which can be used against helicopters and low flying aircraft. However, their effectiveness
3475-473: A size of 9.67 m (length with gun forward) x 3.60 m (width) x 2.25 m (height) and weighs 51.1 t or 51.5 t. It is powered by a German power pack consisting of 1,200 hp (23.5 hp/t) from MTU Friedrichshafen MB871Ka-501 8-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine licensed by Ssangyong Heavy Industries (now STX Engine) and ZF Friedrichshafen LSG 3000 transmission licensed by Hyundai Precision Industry (now Hyundai Transys). The tank can drive at
3614-479: A structural difference from the previous version. This is different from the way Americans installed and welded SAP directly to prevent Koreans from technically accessing the armor during the K1 production. Moreover, a captain of the ROK Army Armor School mentioned the combination of explosive reactive armor (ERA) with composite material being used for the armor of K1A1. In 1996, South Korea acquired
3753-619: A target and thereby enhance the first-round hit probability. The United States's experience in the Vietnam War contributed to the idea among army leadership that the role of the main battle tank could be fulfilled by attack helicopters . During the Vietnam War, helicopters and missiles competed with MBTs for research money. Though the Persian Gulf War reaffirmed the role of main battle tanks, MBTs were outperformed by
3892-409: 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 most important upgrade was switching the main gun from a 105 mm KM68A1 rifled (47 rounds) to
4031-572: A total of five XK1s were completed (two for the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), two for the ROK Army, and one for the Army logistics), and went for further testing in South Korea. However, Hyundai realized that GDLS had made a crucial mistake by providing outdated blueprints that did not reflect the latest fixes, and XK1s began to experience the same issues they saw from early prototypes. In addition,
4170-458: A trend towards heavier weight and greater firepower during World War II; speed was not a substitute for armour and firepower. An increasing variety of anti-tank weapons and the perceived threat of a nuclear war prioritized the need for additional armour. The additional armour prompted the design of even more powerful guns. The main battle tank thus took on the role the British had once called
4309-605: A unique tank design based on the Leopard 1 . Both South Korea and West Germany kept the cooperation secret because the two nations believed that the United States would intervene once the information had been leaked. In 1977, as expected, Chrysler Defense showed interest in the Korean tank project after its engineers became available and wanted to generate more profit after the development of the M1 Abrams . This time, Chrysler offered
K1 tank - Misplaced Pages Continue
4448-478: A world of shaped charge weapons, and new designs rapidly emerged from most armed forces. The Quebec conference in 1957 between the US, UK and Canada identified the MBT as the route for development rather than separate medium and heavy tanks. The concept of the medium tank gradually evolved into the MBT in the 1960s, as it was realized that medium tanks could carry guns (such as the American 90 mm (3.5 in), Soviet 100 mm (3.9 in), and especially
4587-489: Is 9.77 m x 3.66 m x 2.37 m and weighs 54 t. The Gun/Turret Drive and Stabilization System (GTDSS) measures and compensates yawing and pitching, which occur on uneven and curved roads for gun turret to be capable of the precise fire while running. The GTDSS consists elevation servo system, elevation drive system, reference gyro, traverse servo system, traverse drive system, feed-forward gyro, electronic unit for gun and turret drive, and steering handle for artillery man. The system
4726-435: Is considered one of the fastest MBTs in existence. The MBT is often cumbersome in traffic and frequently obstructs the normal flow of traffic. The tracks can damage some roads after repeated use. Many structures like bridges do not have the load capacity to support an MBT. In the fast pace of combat, it is often impossible to test the sturdiness of these structures. Though appreciated for its excellent off-road characteristics,
4865-456: Is expected to be tested on an upgraded prototype in 1996. The delivery ceremony of the K1A1 prototype was held on 3 April 1996. The major improvement was firepower, which increased the penetration from 300 mm to 600 mm and the effective range from 1.2 km to 2.5 km. South Korea expects to mass-produce K1A1 in 1997. On 9 October, the ADD announced the development of the KGPS, which
5004-456: Is limited in comparison to dedicated anti-aircraft artillery. The tank's machine guns are usually equipped with between 500 and 3,000 rounds each. Performing situational awareness and communicating is one of four primary MBT functions. For situational awareness, the crew can use a circular review system combining augmented reality and artificial Intelligence technologies. These systems use several externally mounted video sensors to transfer
5143-580: Is locally produced in South Korea by Dongmyeong Heavy Industries (now Mottrol) since 1992. The gunner's sight was initially a problematic Hughes GPSS, which uses an Nd:YAG laser rangefinder , a similar model used for the M1 Abrams. Despite Koreans having decided to upgrade the existing GPSS, Samsung Electronics signed a deal with Texas Instruments to supply and locally produce the GPTTS (Gunner's Primary Tank Thermal Sight) in 1986. Hyundai originally planned to install GPTTS in 1987, but serious problems such as
5282-474: Is performed in high-intensity conflicts where reconnaissance by light vehicles would be insufficient due to the necessity to "fight" for information. In asymmetric warfare, main battle tanks are deployed in small, highly concentrated units. MBTs fire only at targets at close range and instead rely on external support such as unmanned aircraft for long range combat. Main battle tanks have significantly varied characteristics. Procuring too many varieties can place
5421-503: Is reduced by about 40% compared to the previous model, which increases operational time with the engine off to maximize stealth kill. It has a daytime magnification of 1 to 10 times and a far-infrared thermal magnification of 3 to 10 times. The new commander's sight KCPS (Korean Commander's Panoramic Sight) was developed in 1999 and has a thermal sight for night operation. However, both KGPS and KCPS heavily rely on foreign parts and were reported to have an average localization rate of 27.6% in
5560-524: Is reserved for ammunition. External space enhances independence of logistics and can accommodate extra fuel and some personal equipment of the crew. The Israeli Merkava can accommodate crew members displaced from a destroyed vehicle in its ammunition compartment. Emphasis is placed on selecting and training main battle tank crew members. The crew must perform their tasks faultlessly and harmoniously so commanders select teams taking into consideration personalities and talents. The main battle tank fulfills
5699-511: Is turning or shaking, making it easier for the operators to fire on the move and/or against moving targets. Gun-missile systems are complicated and have been particularly unsatisfactory to the United States who abandoned gun-missile projects such as the M60A2 and MBT-70 , but have been diligently developed by the Soviet Union, who even retrofitted them to T-55 tanks, in an effort to double
K1 tank - Misplaced Pages Continue
5838-487: The Cromwell tank , combined with efficiency savings elsewhere in the design, almost doubled the horsepower for cruiser tanks. This led to speculation of a "Universal Tank", able to take on the roles of both a cruiser and an infantry tank by combining heavy armour and manoeuvrability. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery is acknowledged as the main advocate of the British universal tank concept as early as 1943, according to
5977-697: The LAV-25 and Stryker . The London operation continued in the GM Diesel plant location. SSF merged into the General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) unit. In 2015, GDLS Canada secured a fourteen-year, $ 15-billion deal to supply light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia . Representatives from Unifor , the plant union, expressed concern that the London facility would suffer financially due to negative publicity surrounding
6116-452: The M1 Abrams tank, Stryker , and LAV 6 . In February 1982 Chrysler announced the sale of Chrysler Defense, its profitable defense subsidiary, to General Dynamics for US$ 348.5 million. The sale was completed in March 1982 for the revised figure of US$ 336.1 million and renamed General Dynamics Land Systems. Under this newly formed division, General Dynamics would take over production of
6255-836: The M60 and M1 tanks for the United States Army. In 1985, 3 years after the sale from Chrysler, General Dynamics production plants in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania went on strike. Members of these plants were part of the United Automobile Workers union. The strike was primarily around wage increases. On April 11, 2024, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced its sanction on the company due to its arms sales to Taiwan . General Dynamics Land Systems–Australia ( GDLS-Australia or GDLS-A )
6394-609: The Nixon Doctrine . South Korean President Park Chung Hee requested the latest variant of M60 tanks to maintain the balance of power. However, the United States responded by transferring used M48 tanks and providing upgrades instead; South Korea received 25 M48A5s from the United States Forces Korea and numerous M48A3s that were used, but in good condition, during the Vietnam War . Under
6533-518: The Raman laser believing such technology would be used for future weapon systems. In 1995, by the time Koreans were at the end stage of development, Europe announced it would use Raman lasers for tanks followed by the United States. A year later, in December 1996, a Raman laser type Korean Gunner's Primary Sight (KGPS) was developed. The commander's sight is from SFIM (now SAGEM ) of France, and it has
6672-655: The Second Battle of Fallujah the United States Marines brought in two extra companies of M1s. Britain deployed its Challenger 2 tanks to support its operations in southern Iraq. Advanced armour has reduced crew fatalities but has not improved vehicle survivability. Small unmanned turrets on top of the cupolas called remote controlled weapon stations armed with machine guns or mortars provide improved defence and enhance crew survivability. Experimental tanks with unmanned turrets locate crew members in
6811-532: The T-72 . The United States Army used 1,100 M1 Abrams in the course of the Iraq War . They proved to have an unexpectedly high vulnerability to improvised explosive devices . A relatively new type of remotely detonated mine, the explosively formed penetrator , was used with some success against American armoured vehicles. However, with upgrades to their rear armour, M1s proved to be valuable in urban combat; at
6950-547: The United Kingdom , and the United States, and the penetrator manufacturing technology was on the U.S. Army Science and Technology Master Plan (ASTMP) in 1997 and 1998 as a technology to acquire from outside the United States. Later, In 2009, the U.S. negotiated with the South Korean government to introduce penetrator technology, but the negotiations did not progress further because South Korea wanted to export only
7089-543: The attack helicopter . Other strategists considered that the MBT was entirely obsolete in light of the efficacy and speed with which coalition forces neutralized Iraqi armour. In asymmetric warfare , threats such as improvised explosive devices and mines have proven effective against MBTs. In response, nations that face asymmetric warfare, such as Israel, are reducing the size of their tank fleet and procuring more advanced models. Conversely, some insurgent groups like Hezbollah themselves operate main battle tanks, such as
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#17327795635547228-409: The finished products of penetrator through the U.S. Army's Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program. The systems were upgraded from 16-bit to 32-bit and were designed using upgraded computers including 32-bit digital ballistic calculators. The new gunner's sight KGPS consists of a stabilization device that allows better accuracy for aiming and shooting during maneuvers, a thermal imaging device and
7367-586: The "universal tank", exemplified by the Centurion, filling almost all battlefield roles. Typical main battle tanks were as well armed as any other vehicle on the battlefield, highly mobile, and well armoured. Yet they were cheap enough to be built in large numbers. The first Soviet main battle tank was the T-64A (the T-54/55 and T-62 were considered "medium" tanks) and the first American nomenclature-designated MBT
7506-609: The 400–500 hp (300–370 kW) range. Notable examples include the Soviet T-34 (the most-produced tank at that time) and the US M4 Sherman . Late war tank development placed increased emphasis on armour, armament, and anti-tank capabilities for medium tanks: Britain had continued on the path of parallel development of cruiser tanks and infantry tanks. Development of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine for
7645-404: The Army found an issue with 95 K1A1s with domestic fire detector, which replaced American counterpart that suspended production, activating fire extinguishing system when the tank fires to its left side. It was due to its excessive sensitivity (5 meters) that detected flame from gunfire, so the manufacturer adjusted to the American detector standard (2.5 meters). In December 2020, the ADD commenced
7784-466: The Army will conduct a detailed inspection of all K1 tank guns, use specialized tools to conduct preliminary inspections, and carry out the procedure for barrel cleaning before firing. In the long run, the Army will request external agencies to establish the acceptance criteria for microcracks and manage the cannon production process more thoroughly. On 15 September, the Ministry of Defense revealed that
7923-627: The British L7 105 mm (4.1 in) ) that could penetrate any practical level of armour then existing at long range. Also, the heaviest tanks were unable to use most existing bridges. The World War II concept of heavy tanks , armed with the most powerful guns and heaviest armour, became obsolete because the large tanks were too expensive and just as vulnerable to damage by mines, bombs, rockets, and artillery. Likewise, World War II had shown that lightly armed and armoured tanks were of limited value in most roles. Even reconnaissance vehicles had shown
8062-546: The French Leclerc , or the Russian/Ukrainian T-64 , T-72 , T-80 , T-84 , T-90 , and T-14 and, for this reason, the crew can be reduced to 3 members. MBTs with an autoloader require one less crew member and the autoloader requires less space than its human counterpart, allowing for a reduction in turret size. Further, an autoloader can be designed to handle rounds which would be too difficult for
8201-551: The French Renault FT ; these were light tanks or tankettes . Many late-war and inter-war tank designs diverged from these according to new, and mostly untried, concepts for future tank roles and tactics. Each nation tended to create its own list of tank classes with different intended roles, such as "cavalry tanks", "breakthrough tanks", "fast tanks", and "assault tanks". The British maintained cruiser tanks that in order to achieve high speed and hence manoeuvrability in
8340-534: The GPSS by doubling up the price when licensing. GDLS, which acquired Hughes in 1985, revealed that the system uses parts from Canada, West Germany, and Switzerland, and thus requires time-consuming multi-national cooperation to solve to problem. In 1986, another contract was signed between Hyundai and GDLS for updating the GPSS, increasing the cost of the gunner's sight. This unsatisfactory situation led South Koreans to look for alternative options immediately. In April 1987,
8479-510: The GPSS failed to do so during the test on 2 September 1993. The GPTTS uses a carbon dioxide laser range finder, which is safer for the human eye upon being hit by the laser, while Nd:YAG can blind the victim. However, the GPTTS was a complex and heavier system. Ironically, access to GPTTS technology enabled Koreans to design their own gunner's sight. The ADD and Samsung Electronics began the research in 1992 for domestic gunner's primary sight (later known as KGPS: Korean Gunner's Primary Sight) using
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#17327795635548618-421: The GPTTS in 1991. Later, during the parliamentary investigation, it was found that there were lobbies involved in selecting the GPTTS, leading to a selection of the product without proper testing, which caused an additional development cost of 16 billion KRW on the sight. Regardless of the involvement of lobbies, upgraded GPTTS showed superior performance when shooting the hidden target behind the smoke screen, which
8757-614: The JCS cut the air conditioner budget by 100% to reduce the defense budget by sacrificing the welfare of the soldiers, which was heavily criticized as the air conditioner is a part of the positive pressure system that allows tank crews to operate in contaminated zones without wearing a gas mask. On 12 September 2024, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced completion of K1A2 program and achieved full operational capability. The K1A2
8896-662: The K1 MBT detachable pad track to replace the locally produced American M88A1 integral pad track. On 7 June 1999, Hyundai Precision Industry announced to co-develop the K1 tank simulator for weaponry with the ADD to lower the training cost. On 19 February 2001, Hyundai Mobis (formerly Hyundai Precision Industry) announced that the simulator was completed and supplied to the military on 19 February 2001. Simulators are expected to decrease training costs from 20 billion KRW to 1.4 billion KRW per 1,000 trainees every year. On 28 October 1999, Samsung Electronics and Thomson-CSF agreed to create
9035-567: The K1 tank test evaluation for conditional mass production was completed, and serial production began in September 1987. On 18 September, the tank was given the nickname 88-Tank by South Korean president Chun Doo-hwan to celebrate the upcoming 1988 Summer Olympics . 1,027 K1s were produced between 1986 and 1997 in three batches with design changes in each batch. In 1995, the K1s received their first depot maintenance at Hyundai Precision Industry in
9174-463: The K1A1 is made of completely different materials and carries more advanced subsystems. 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 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
9313-420: The K1A1 upgrade plan to install the battlefield management system , identification friend or foe , driver's thermal sight, and front and rear surveillance cameras. The upgraded K1A1 tank is expected to increase cooperative combat capabilities with the next generation tanks and K21 infantry fighting vehicles through improved all-weather combat capabilities and battlefield information sharing functions. However,
9452-502: The LSG 3000 transmission used for the K1 and the K1A1 has defects, and the production of the K1A1 has been suspended since February and expects a delay of one year until fixing the problem. In 2005, the Army checked 1,329 vehicles and found 102 with defective transmissions caused by iron powder and broken gear pieces in transmission oil. 77 vehicles with minor problems were fixed at the base while 25 vehicles with major issues had to be repaired at
9591-497: The M1 Abrams, the K1 lacks ammunition storage in the bustle at the rear of the turret, which is instead filled with radio systems. The main gun is assisted by a 16-bit fire control system and digital ballistic calculator. The tank has either M2 Browning or SNT Dynamics K6 12.7x99 mm NATO on the commander's hatch mount, an M60D 7.62×51mm NATO machine gun on the loader's hatch mount, and an M60E2-1 7.62×51mm NATO coaxial machine gun for gunner as secondary armaments. The K1 has
9730-422: The MBT can become immobilized in muddy conditions. The high cost of MBTs can be attributed in part to the high-performance engine-transmission system and to the fire control system. Also, propulsion systems are not produced in high enough quantities to take advantage of economies of scale . Crew fatigue limits the operational range of MBTs in combat. Reducing the crew to three and relocating all crewmembers from
9869-619: The STX Engine and the MTU signed a MOU to transfer the ownership of the MB871Ka-501 diesel engine. The STX Engine had achieved 80% localization rate prior to the MOU, and gained right to manufacture, maintain, and sell the engine. On 6 September 2009, North Korea released the floodgates of Hwanggang Dam at dawn without warning, leaving six South Korean civilians missing and one K1 tank trapped in
10008-413: The Soviet Union's fighting capability. The Soviet Union made novel advancements to the weapon systems including mechanical autoloaders and anti-tank guided missiles . Autoloaders were introduced to replace the human loader, permitting the turret to be reduced in size, making the tank smaller and less visible as a target, while missile systems were added to extend the range at which a vehicle could engage
10147-453: The U.S. and France, and have been expensive equipment costing 25 million KRW each. Infrared detectors were tested and determined to be suitable for military use in April and May and will be deployed to K1 tank thermal sights and artillery observation equipment from 2010, and will be applied to guided weapons and K21 IFV sights afterward. On 6 August 2010, during a live firing exercise at Paju ,
10286-456: The United States and South Korea agreed exporting the K1 to third countries during the defense talks. Hyundai Precision Industry planned to sell 70 tanks to Malaysia . The price of the K1 was increased to $ 2.8 billion KRW in 1995. The K1 was displayed in Malaysia at DSA 1996 on 23–26 April 1996. To suit the jungle environment of Malaysia, Hyundai suggested a 47.9 t variant K1M based on the K1;
10425-571: The United States, Germany, France, and Israel, while ammunition was competed between the United States, which was a German design, and Israel. On 10 March 1994, Poongsan Corporation was selected as the main supplier of the 120 mm tank ammunition. In September 1994, despite the Israeli IMI 120 mm gun showing better performance, easier logistics access made South Korea licence produce the American M256 120 mm smoothbore, which
10564-448: The agreement for South Korea was that Hyundai Precision Industry, which had planned to produce the tank at its new factory, was excluded from direct involvement in designing the tank. Since Koreans had not made tanks before, they would be unable to produce tanks as they did not understand the structure and technology of the tank even with prototypes in hand. From October 1980 to April 1981, Chrysler had three meetings with Hyundai to confirm
10703-548: The agreement, South Korea received the technical data package (TDP) of the M48 Patton and its upgrade kits for 12 major enhancements. Korean engineers were sent to the United States Army Depot in Alabama for training, such as armor cast steel welding and production, precision manufacturing, assembling skills, quality inspection, and test evaluation. Around the same time, Park Chung Hee ordered the development of
10842-468: The armor. The SAP is applied on the turret and the front of the hull. Meanwhile, the side of the hull is protected with additional RHA plates , which provide protection to all types of 115 mm ammunition fired from T-62 in the hands of North Korea at the time of the development. According to the media report, the frontal armor of the K1 baseline is between 400 and 500 mm against KE projectiles. Smoke grenade launchers are located on each outer side of
10981-411: The attack carried less armour, and infantry tanks which operating at infantryman pace could carry more armour. After years of isolated and divergent development, the various interwar tank concepts were finally tested with the start of World War II . In the chaos of blitzkrieg , tanks designed for a single role often found themselves forced into battlefield situations they were ill-suited for. During
11120-556: The deal due to human rights concerns within Saudi Arabia . Both Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe and New Democrat Thomas Mulcair challenged Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the secrecy surrounding military sales to Saudi Arabia. David Perry, senior analyst with the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute , argued that secrecy in trade details is part of a pragmatic foreign trade policy necessary for
11259-444: The detonation of ERA blocks creates a hazard to any supporting infantry near the tank. Despite this drawback, it is still employed on many Russian MBTs, the latest generation Kontakt-5 being capable of defeating both high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and kinetic energy penetrator threats. The Soviets also developed Active Protection Systems (APS) designed to more actively neutralize hostile projectiles before they could even strike
11398-640: The development after the United States learned about the project in 1987. In March 2005, LS Cable (formerly LG Cable) developed the K1A1 MBT detachable pad track to replace the previous generation model for both K1 and K1A1. On 26 June 2008, the Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee approved mass production of the KCPS for K1 tanks until 2014 to provide thermal sight for tank commanders. On 19 March 2009,
11537-520: The early 1980s to defend against the shaped-charge warheads of modern anti-tank guided missiles and other such high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) projectiles. This technology was subsequently adopted and expanded upon by the United States and the Soviet Union. MBT armour is concentrated at the front of the tank, where it is layered up to 33 centimetres (13 in) thick. Missiles are cheap and cost-effective anti-tank weapons. ERA can be quickly added to vehicles to increase their survivability. However,
11676-690: The early 1990s and 2000s; surviving numerous impacts from 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s era rocket-propelled grenades with negligible damage. It is much less efficient against later models of RPGs. For example, the RPG-29 from the 1980s is able to penetrate the frontal hull armour of the Challenger 2. Main battle tanks are equipped with a main gun and at least one machine gun . MBT main guns are generally between 100 mm (3.9 in) and 125 mm (4.9 in) caliber, and can fire both anti-armour and, more recently, anti-personnel rounds. The cannon serves
11815-400: The effect of protecting the vehicle's occupants from nuclear explosion radiation). By the late 1970s, MBTs were manufactured by China, France, West Germany, Britain, India, Italy, Japan, the Soviet Union, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The Soviet Union's war doctrine depended heavily on the main battle tank. Any weapon advancement making the MBT obsolete could have devastated
11954-988: The effective range of the vehicle's fire. The MBT's role could be compromised because of the increasing distances involved and the increased reliance on indirect fire . The tank gun is still useful in urban combat for precisely delivering powerful fire while minimizing collateral damage. High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), and some form of high velocity kinetic energy penetrator , such as armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds are carried for anti-armour purposes. Anti-personnel rounds such as high explosive or high explosive fragmentation have dual purpose. Less common rounds are Beehive anti-personnel rounds , and high-explosive squash head (HESH) rounds used for both anti-armour and bunker busting. Usually, an MBT carries 30–50 rounds of ammunition for its main tank gun , usually split between HE, HEAT, and KEP rounds. Some MBTs may also carry smoke or white phosphorus rounds. Some MBTs are equipped with an autoloader , such as
12093-419: The era. Later came British Chobham armour . This composite armour used layers of ceramics and other materials to help attenuate the effects of HEAT munitions. Another threat came by way of the widespread use of helicopters in battle. Before the advent of helicopters, armour was heavily concentrated to the front of the tank. This new threat caused designs to distribute armour on all sides of the tank (also having
12232-668: The establishment of a significant Australian supplier base to support manufacturing for GDLS' global supply chain for LAV-25 turrets. GDLS-A’s primary customer is the Defence Materiel Organisation , Commonwealth of Australia, located in Melbourne , Victoria. Its National Manufacturing and Support Centre is located north of Adelaide in Pooraka . GDLS-A also has Field Service Groups in Darwin and Brisbane , and
12371-665: The facility. In addition, the manufacturing team of Hyundai came for a tour of the American tank factory to understand how to build a tank factory. Koreans could only go to the specified path, but they memorized types of machinery and calculated the required sizes of the facility by counting theïr footsteps, which helped them to build the new factory at Changwon . In 1983, Hyundai accepted GDLS' new offer and acquired special welding of armor plates, assembly of major devices, and weapon testing technologies. 30 engineers from GDLS were also sent to Korea and participated in producing and testing preproduction models. From September 1984 to August 1985,
12510-466: The failure of the laser rangefinder forced Hyundai to postpone the plan. Due to the delays, a total of 445 K1s were produced with Hughes GPSS installed. Meanwhile, after failing to repair the GPTTS, Texas Instruments gave access to technology to the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Within a year, a combined team managed to fix the sight and further improve it by increasing the sight's range from 2 km to 3 km. Samsung Electronics began supplying
12649-442: The gunner's sight was equipped with a thermal observation device, which meant that the K1 had superior sensors until the introduction of the M1A2. The Special Armor Package (SAP) is a classified composite armor used for the K1 tanks crafted by the United States using identical materials and technologies used on the armor of M1 Abrams. Its specifications are strictly restricted for public release and limit South Koreans from accessing
12788-465: The heavily armoured hull, improving survivability and reducing the vehicle's profile. Technology is reducing the weight and size of the modern MBT. A British military document from 2001 indicated that the British Army would not procure a replacement for the Challenger 2 because of a lack of conventional warfare threats in the foreseeable future. The obsolescence of the tank has been asserted, but
12927-617: The history of the late 20th and early 21st century suggested that MBTs were still necessary. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine , Western and Russian MBTs saw large-scale combat in large numbers. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe defines a main battle tank as "a self-propelled armoured fighting vehicle, capable of heavy firepower, primarily of a high muzzle velocity direct fire main gun necessary to engage armoured and other targets, with high cross-country mobility, with
13066-476: The lack of detailed blueprints forced Korean engineers to rework the tank and create five thousand design changes and ten thousand pages of blueprints. The biggest change during this process was the switching of the mobility system from American to German, in which the design change was done by GDLS. The air-cooled AVCR-1790 had lower torque, thus unable to drive at high incline angles, and experienced fire several times, contributing to unexpected fire tests that proved
13205-400: The latest technology. However, the plan was rejected by the military as such an upgrade would require a budget over the limit, and too luxurious for a conscription army. Therefore, the ADD and Hyundai changed the plan by focusing on the weaponry by increasing the caliber to 120 mm. Since South Korea does not know the specification of 120 mm cannon, it decided to compare the cannons from
13344-568: The limits of mechanical technology. This limited the specific battlefield capabilities any one tank design could be expected to fulfill. A design might have good speed, armour, or firepower, but not all three together. Facing the deadlock of trench warfare , the first tank designs focused on crossing wide trenches, requiring very long and large vehicles, such as the British Mark I tank and successors; these became known as heavy tanks . Tanks that focused on other combat roles were smaller, like
13483-441: The maintenance depot. The initial solution was to install magnetic drainage plugs and oil drainage ports to collect iron powders but did not fix the source of the problem. Between 2005 and 2010, 189 additional vehicles were repaired after experiencing same transmission problem. On 30 December 2010, the Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee resumed the production of the K1A1 before the transmission durability test results, with
13622-542: The manufacture. However, the Army reinvestigated and claimed the August 2009 incident was due to fatigue failure caused by long usage of the barrel, which is a human error for failing inspection. On 19 November, the investigation team concluded that the August 2010 barrel burst was caused by the tensile residual stress remaining in the metal during the processing stage and a long period of use and exposure to corroded environments such as humidity, oxygen, and temperature. Therefore,
13761-534: The material and protection were identical to the M1 Abrams while limiting Koreans from access until the installation due to national security reasons. Exporting of the K1 is strictly controlled and needs authorization from the United States as many sensitive systems are installed, and South Korea was required to pay a royalty to Chrysler Defense. Also, 44 designated parts (gradually reduced to 14) cannot be changed without United States approval, and some parts must be purchased periodically. In addition, South Korea would have
13900-439: The maximum speed of a tank is about 65 km/h (40 mph) . The extreme weight of vehicles of this type 40–70 t (39–69 long tons; 44–77 short tons) also limits their speed. They are usually equipped with a 1,200–1,500 hp (890–1,120 kW) engine (more than 25,000 cc (1,526 cu in)), with an operational range near 500 km (310 mi). The German Army has prioritized mobility in its Leopard 2 which
14039-518: The number of aircraft available. Military planners anticipate that the airlift capability for MBTs will not improve in the future. To date, no helicopter has the capability to lift MBTs. Rail and road are heavily used to move MBTs nearer to the battle, ready to fight in prime condition. Where well maintained roads allow it, wheeled tank transporters can be used. The task of resupply is usually accomplished with large trucks. Main battle tanks have internal and external storage space. Internal space
14178-464: The offer, and decided to take full responsibility on the project even if it fails, because they could learn about the main battle tank throughout the process and to maximize localization by reducing the technological reliance from GDLS. In the end, GDLS transferred the TDP, and sent a small team of engineers to South Korea for a 50-man-day contract, but the contract was never needed. Despite the similar look,
14317-409: The order of production (10-year cycle). The work includes the application of third batch updates on the earlier produced vehicles. The K1 retains most of the features of the M1 Abrams but also shows differences. Its main armament is a licensed M68A1 105 mm 52 caliber tank gun under designation KM68A1 by Hyundai Precision Industry. The K1 carries 47 rounds of ammunition in the hull and turret. Unlike
14456-425: The previous contract. GDLS responded with an upgraded model with a 120 mm smoothbore gun similar to M1A1 Abrams. In the late 1980s, South Korea received multiple intelligence reports about North Korea purchasing T-72 tanks, which had a 125 mm smoothbore cannon. The intelligence report turned out to be false decades later. However, it alerted South Korea at that time as a 125 mm smoothbore could fire from
14595-428: The progress. Although the contract limits technological access to Koreans, engineers from both nations freely shared information during friendship interactions, including a classified specification of the M1 Abrams. When the upper management of Chrysler found out about this, they built a wall in the office to prevent information leakage. However, Koreans managed to obtain significant data during their three-year presence at
14734-512: The project to the Ministry of Defense as the due date was only six months away. Eventually, two companies restored damages in three months and completed product development in January 2004. The localized circular cooler costs 26 million KRW, less than the import variant, which costs 43 million KRW. On 21 October 2004, it was revealed that South Korea was developing depleted uranium tank munitions between 1983 and 1987. South Korea eventually halted
14873-509: The required operational capability (ROC) and presented a small-scale mock-up and reports. During the production of the prototypes, Chrysler Defense was sold to General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in March 1982. Two prototypes named ROKIT (Republic of Korea Indigenous Tank) were produced with designations PV-1 (MTR - mobility test rig) and PV-2 (FTR - firepower test rig) in 1983 after three years of development and went to trial at Aberdeen Proving Ground based on American military standards. During
15012-479: The rest of its armament, can also intercept aircraft and missiles. MBTs can also be protected from radar detection by incorporating stealth technology . The T-14 Armata has a turret designed to be harder to detect with radars and thermal sights. Advanced camouflage, like the Russian Nakidka , will also reduce the radar and thermal signatures of a MBT. Other defensive developments focused on improving
15151-425: The rights on, and be limited to, the technologies developed uniquely with the money provided by South Korea, while Chrysler also claimed the rights to use them in the future. On the other hand, South Korea benefitted from the development cost of the cooperation with Chrysler; South Korea paid $ 60 million for the prototype development, far below the $ 700 million spent on the M1 Abrams. However, the biggest disadvantage in
15290-422: The role of armour-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies. Cold War -era development of more powerful engines, better suspension systems and lighter composite armour allowed for the design of a tank that had the firepower of a super-heavy tank , the armour protection of a heavy tank , and the mobility of a light tank , in a package with the weight of a medium tank . The first designated MBT
15429-476: The role the British had once called the "universal tank", filling almost all battlefield roles. They were originally designed in the Cold War to combat other MBTs. The modern light tank supplements the MBT in expeditionary roles and situations where all major threats have been neutralized and excess weight in armour and armament would only hinder mobility and cost more money to operate. Reconnaissance by MBTs
15568-456: The sight has a recording feature for the gunner to check the location of the aiming point during actual shooting or non-shooting training, enhancing the training effect and verifying the results. The thermal imaging device can be operated independently for convenience, thus allowing the tank to shoot even if the thermal malfunctions. The daytime optical system image is displayed in natural color, making it convenient to observe. The power consumption
15707-595: The strength of the armour itself; one of the notable advancements coming from the British with the development of Chobham armour in the 1970s. It was first employed on the American M1 Abrams and later the British Challenger 1 . Chobham armour uses a lattice of composite and ceramic materials along with metal alloys to defeat incoming threats, and proved highly effective in the conflicts in Iraq in
15846-408: The support of infantry , who may accompany the tanks in infantry fighting vehicles . They are also often supported by surveillance or ground-attack aircraft . The average weight of MBTs varies from country to country. The average weight of Western MBTs is usually greater than that of Russian or Chinese MBTs. During World War I , combining tracks, armour, and guns into a functional vehicle pushed
15985-403: The swollen river, which was rescued after hours. On 23 October 2009, i3system, inc. developed a domestic infrared detector after 3 years of research. The infrared detector detects infrared rays emitted from an object even when there is no light and converts them into a two-dimensional image signal of 320×240 pixels. Until now, infrared detectors have only been produced in five countries, including
16124-437: The tank a significant advantage over other tanks of the era, paving the way for a new tank classification, the main battle tank, which gradually superseded previous weight and armament classes. A surplus of effective WWII-era designs in other forces, notably the US and the Soviet Union, led to slower introductions of similar designs on their part. By the early 1950s, these designs were clearly no longer competitive, especially in
16263-583: The tank carries a total of 41 rounds and is equipped with KGPS for the gunner's sight and an overpressure device for CBRN protection. The K1 competed against the Polish PT-91 Twardy of Bumar-Labedy and Ukrainian T-84 of KMDB . Initially, the K1 was favored by Malaysia, but the high price and Malaysia's economic crisis caused by the 1997 Asian financial crisis led to the selection of the Polish PT-91. In March 1996, LG Cable developed
16402-688: The tank's survivability. For this reason, the MTU Friedrichshafen MB871Ka-501 water-cooled engine and the ZF Friedrichshafen LSG 3000 transmission were chosen for the new power pack. These preproduction variants entered service with the South Korean military in February 1986. On the other hand, Hughes' GPSS (Gunner's Primary Sight System) continuously saw issues with low accuracy and operational uses, while Hughes forced South Koreans to give up localization of
16541-670: The tank, namely the Shtora and Arena systems. The United States has also adopted similar technologies in the form of the Missile Countermeasure Device and as part of the Tank Urban Survival Kit used on M1 Abrams tanks serving in Iraq. The latest Russian MBT, according to many forum members the T-14 Armata , incorporates an AESA radar as part of its Afghanit APS and in conjunction with
16680-512: The test. Eventually, the known problems were fixed and improved by the time of delivery of the two prototypes. In the end, GDLS transferred the PV-1 along with 1,370 pages of blueprints and the TDP, but the number of blueprints was insufficient for manufacturing. During the trial, a team of Korean engineers from Hyundai Precision Industry was dispatched to join Chrysler's developer team to look over
16819-485: The torsion bar and hydropneumatic suspension were enhanced to withstand the recoil of the new 120 mm cannon. The vehicle can move at a speed of 65 km/h. In 2007, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army, and Hyundai Rotem planned to develop an upgrade model of the K1A1 by installing C4I network-centric warfare capability by 2011. On 22 September 2008, the Defense Acquisition Program Promotion Committee approved
16958-456: The transport, storage, and operation of warheads and ammunition. In September 2003, Typhoon Maemi caused seawater damage to the domestic circular cooler prototype for K1 tanks and its test and evaluation facilities at Hanjo Company in Busan. The STX engine, which had joined with Hanjo to localize core components since 2002, also dispatched a team to recover the sight and requested an extension of
17097-527: The trial, the PV-1 failed to climb the longitudinal slope of 60%, experienced a fire on the 1,200 hp Teledyne Continental Motors AVCR-1790 engine, and had issues with its transmission. PV-2 also reported issues with its fire control system; LOS (line of sight) was shaking due to frost in the winter season, taking too long for warmup, interference from electromagnetic waves, and lockup of the ballistic computer. Protection tests were done on separately built ballistic hulls and turrets, which showed some flaws during
17236-591: The turret front. The vehicle is also equipped with a fire-extinguishing system in the engine room, where the system notifies crews to activate automatic extinguishers when a thermometer detects a critical temperature. The extinguishant used is Halon 1301 , commonly used by western main battle tanks. The vehicle lacks an overpressure system for CBRN defense , and thus requires tank crews to wear personal protective gear to operate in chemical , biological , radiological , and nuclear warfare environments. In 1985, South Korea exercised for K1 upgrade plan report, included in
17375-409: The turret to the hull could provide time to sleep for one off-shift crewmember located in the rear of the hull. In this scenario, crewmembers would rotate shifts regularly and all would require cross-training on all vehicle job functions. Cargo aircraft are instrumental to the timely deployment of MBTs. The absence of sufficient numbers of strategic airlift assets can limit the rate of MBT deployments to
17514-400: The war, limited-role tank designs tended to be replaced by more general-purpose designs, enabled by improving tank technology. Tank classes became mostly based on weight (and the corresponding transport and logistical needs). This led to new definitions of heavy and light tank classes, with medium tanks covering the balance of those between. The German Panzer IV tank, designed before the war as
17653-483: The world receive a single heat treatment, while Korean penetrators are treated 20 times using the new technology, which increases impact toughness by 300%. The self-sharpening effect increases penetration by 8–16% compared to regular penetrators and compensates 6–10% less penetration from material disadvantage against DU, providing firepower of that of DU ammunition in a DU particles-free environment. South Korea holds related patents on 6 other nations including Japan ,
17792-432: The world. Benefitted from domestic tungsten processing technologies from abundant deposits, Korean engineers invented a self-sharpening process on the tungsten heavy alloy, which the process was only achievable from depleted uranium (DU) penetrators, by applying microstructure control and multi-stage cyclic heat treatment after 4 years of development between in 1990 to 1993 with 1.1 billion KRW budget. Most penetrators in
17931-525: The writings of Giffard Le Quesne Martel , but little progress was made beyond development of the basic Cromwell cruiser tank that eventually led to the Centurion . The Centurion, at the time designated "heavy cruiser" and later "medium gun tank" was designed for mobility and firepower at the expense of armour , but more engine power permitted more armour protection, so the Centurion could also operate as an infantry tank , doing so well that development of
18070-460: The year 2004. The SAP was changed to a more protective Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP) as well as switching American RHA to Korean domestic armor steel. Although the exact specification is classified, it was reported that the KSAP provides a protection level of 600 mm against KE ammunition for frontal armor. In addition, the exterior of the K1A1 has nuts that were not seen on the K1, hinting at
18209-399: Was based on German Rheinmetall Rh-120 , as designation KM256. Meanwhile, on October 10, 1996, ADD announced that it would develop domestic 120mm ammunition without receiving technology transfer from foreign countries. On 7 October 1994, the ADD reported at the parliamentary inspection that the KGPS, fitted with a Raman laser rangefinder, was tested on the K1 and showed good performances. It
18348-463: Was created, and it was renamed Samsung Thales on 26 February 2001. On 27 February 2003, Ssang Yong Information and the ADD developed an IETM (interactive electronic technical manual) in four CD-ROMs that contain twenty books of a technical manual for the K1A1 using domestically developed software for the first time. On 26 September, the ADD announced the development of insensitive gunpower that does not explode in shock, fire, or heat that can occur in
18487-408: Was developed by the technologies gained during the GPTTS upgrades. On 9 June 1998, the Ministry of Defense announced that mass production of K1A1 would begin in 1999, 2 years behind schedule due to 1997 Asian financial crisis that decreased the defense budget. On 15 November 1999, Hyundai Precision Industry signed an estimate of 1 trillion KRW contract to produce K1A1. The first K1A1 release ceremony
18626-730: Was established in 2000 as a subsidiary to support the production of ASLAV . GDLS-A now provides engineering, manufacturing, systems integration, upgrade and fleet management services for GDLS Armoured Fighting Vehicles in the Asia Pacific region. In Australia this includes the ADF's ASLAV Light Armoured Vehicles and M1A1 Main Battle Tanks, supported under a Through Life Support Contract awarded in June 2011. GDLS-A reports operationally to General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada (GDLS-C). GDLS-A
18765-712: Was established in October 2000 as General Motors Defence Australia. General Motors Defense operations worldwide were sold to General Dynamics Land Systems in March 2003. GDLS-A was established as a result of GDLS-C being awarded the Phase III contract to provide 144 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) to the Commonwealth of Australia. The contract provided for the manufacture of the LAV-25 turret system in Adelaide and
18904-474: Was held on 12 October 2001. The tank weighs 53.2 t and has a length of 9.71 m (gun forward), and each tank costs 4.4 billion KRW with 67% localization rate by value. Unlike the K1, the newly upgraded design was made only by Korean engineers. Originally, GDLS wanted to participate in the K1 series to maintain its level of influence, and it proposed a partnership for the project due to concerns about Koreans lacking such skills. However, South Korean engineers declined
19043-484: Was produced in four batches. The installation of a battlefield management system by improving analog communication to a digital form has enabled digital map-based information sharing and visualization of battlefield situations for K1A2 crews. By applying the ground tactical data link (KVMF), a standardized specialized transmission and reception system, the tanks will be able to exchange tactical information between ground weapon systems quickly and accurately. On 19 June 1995,
19182-529: Was the M60 tank . Anti-tank weapons rapidly outpaced armour developments. By the 1960s, anti-tank rounds could penetrate a meter of steel so as to make the application of traditional rolled homogeneous armour unpragmatic. The first solution to this problem was the composite armor of Soviet T-64 tank, which included steel-glass-reinforced textolite-steel sandwich in heavily sloped glacis plates, and steel turret with aluminum inserts, which helped to resist both high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) and APDS shells of
19321-516: Was the British Chieftain tank , which during its development in the 1950s was re-designed as an MBT. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the MBT replaced almost all other types of tanks, leaving only some specialist roles to be filled by lighter designs or other types of armoured fighting vehicles . Main battle tanks are a key component of modern armies. Modern MBTs seldom operate alone, as they are organized into armoured units that include
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