K1 tank

K1
Field training exercise of the 11th Division of the South Korean Army in April 2013
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
In service
  • K1: 1987–present
  • K1E1: 2014–present
  • K1A1: 2001–2024
  • K1A2: 2013–present
Used bySee operators
Production history
Designer
Designed
  • K1: 1978–1985
  • K1A1: 1991–1996
Manufacturer
Unit cost
  • K1: 2.3 billion (1994)[1]
  • K1A1: ₩4.4 billion (2001)
  • K1A2: ₩6.0 billion
Produced
  • K1: 1987–1997
  • K1E1: 2014–present
  • K1A1: 1999–2011
  • K1A2: 2012–2024
No. built
  • K1/E1: 1,027
  • K1A1/A2: 484
Specifications
Mass
Length
  • K1: 9.67 m (gun forward)
  • K1A1: 9.71 m (gun forward)
Width3.60 m
Height2.25 m
Crew4

Armor
Main
armament
  • K1, K1E1:
Secondary
armament
EngineSTX Engine/MTU Friedrichshafen MB871Ka-501 8-cylinder water-cooled turbocharged diesel engine
1200 hp (890 kW) @ 2600 rpm
Power/weight
  • K1: 23.4 hp/ton (17.44 kW/t)
  • K1A1: 22.5 hp/ton (16.77 kW/t)
  • K1A2: 22 hp/ton (16.40 kW/t)
TransmissionHyundai Transys/ZF Friedrichshafen LSG 3000
Automatic, 4 forward, 2 reverse
SuspensionHydropneumatic (wheel 1, 2, 6),
torsion bar (wheel 3, 4, 5)
Ground clearance460 mm (18 in)
  • longitudinal slope: 60 %
  • lateral slope: 30 %
  • vertical: 1.1 m
  • trench: 2.74 m
  • fording: 1.2 m (without snorkel) or 2.2 m (with snorkel)
Operational
range
500 km (cruise)
Maximum speed
  • 65 km/h (40 mph) (roads)
  • 40 km/h (25 mph) (cross-country)

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.[3][4] The K1A1 is an up-gunned variant with 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.

  1. ^ "北韓무력부 독자적 軍예산 편성". Yonhap News Agency. 21 July 1994. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  2. ^ "K1A1 Main Battle Tank(MBT)" (PDF). Hyundai Rotem. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  3. ^ Defense Media Agency (17 January 2016). "[첨단국가의 초석, 방위산업] 한국형 전차 K1 개발사 ①". 국방TV. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  4. ^ Lett, Philip (January 1988). International Defense Review 1/1988: Korea's Type 88 comes of age. Janes.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)