| K200A1 | |
|---|---|
K200A1 in the 2007 Seoul Air Show |
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| Type | Infantry Fighting Vehicle |
| Place of origin | Republic of Korea |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Agency for Defense Development |
| Manufacturer | Daewoo Heavy Industries (now part of Doosan Group) |
| Unit cost | $1.41 million (domestic) $1.32 million (export) |
| Produced | 1985 - Present |
| Number built | 2,383 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 13.2 tons[1] |
| Length | 5.49 m[1] |
| Width | 2.85 m[1] |
| Height | 2.52 m[1] |
| Crew | 3 + 9 passengers[1] |
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| Main armament |
1 x 12.7mm machine gun[1] |
| Secondary armament |
1 x 7.62mm machine gun[1] |
| Engine | MAN-Doosan D2848T 350 hp (261 kw) at 2,300 rpm[1] |
| Power/weight | 26.5 hp/ton[1] |
| Transmission | Allison Transmission X200-5K[2] |
| Suspension | torsion bar[1] |
| Operational range |
480 km[1] |
| Speed | 70 km/h 6 km/h on water[1] |
The K200 KIFV (Korea Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a Republic of Korea infantry fighting vehicle, originally produced by Daewoo Heavy Industries (now part of Doosan Group), intended as a domestic replacement to older armored personnel carriers such as M113 that were in main line of service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces at the time of K200's development. The K200 was supplemented by the K21 since 2009 in South Korea.[3] a total of 2,383 K200 vehicles of all configurations were produced between 1985 and 2006,[3] among which 111 K200A1 vehicles had been exported to Malaysia.[4]
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The K200 project began in 1981 when the Republic of Korea Army issued a request for a new Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle (KIFV) to meet future combat requirements. The Agency for Defense Development was in charge of its development, and Daewoo Heavy Industries (now part of Doosan Group) was the prime contractor for the production of this vehicle. The K200 was designed to be an amphibious personnel carrier that could cross shallow rivers, based on the chassis of the American Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The AIFV itself was based on the M113 armored personnel carrier. The vehicle was developed to be more affordable than the AIFV, but not necessarily sacrificing capability, to gain an edge in cost-effectiveness. The eventual domestic development and production of the K200 achieved a price range of $1.32 million to $1.41 million[3] as opposed to the $1.52 million to $2.83 million price range that a license-production or direct importation of the AIFV would have entailed.[5]
Doosan incorporated the MAN D2848T engine into the K200 under a license-production deal and assimilated its technology using domestic components,[2] a reverse-engineering experience that would prove instrumental in the development of its next IFV, the K21. S&T Dynamics was the licensee subcontractor for the Allison Transmission X200-5K gearbox.[6] The vehicle entered production in 1985.[7] Serial production was completed in 2006.[3]
The K200 series of vehicles transport mechanized infantry platoon safe from the enemy’s light weapons.[1] The hull of the KIFV is of all-welded aluminium armour with an additional layer of spaced laminate steel armour bolted to it. This composite armour provides a higher level of protection for less weight.[2] It can protect against 12.7mm on the side and 7.62mm on the rear, and against anti-personnel mines.[1] The engine compartment is located at the front right of the vehicle and is separated from the remainder of the vehicle by a bulkhead. The engine compartment is fitted with a fire extinguishing system that can be operated by the driver or from outside the vehicle. The air inlet, air outlet louvres and the exhaust pipe are located on the roof of the vehicle[2] to allow amphibious operations.
The K200 has six electrically operated smoke grenade launchers mounted across the front of the hull as countermeasures against electro-optical and infrared targeting. If the KIFV variant features a turret, the smoke grenade launchers mount on the turret (three on each side).[3]
K200 can provide infantry firepower support with 12.7mm and 7.62mm machine guns.[1] Stronger anti-infantry and anti-material firepower can be brought to bear by equipping a 20mm Vulcan gun, or 82mm and 107mm mortars. Anti-tank capability can be added by equipping the Metis-M anti-tank missile system.[8] The K200 is highly modular, and its variants provide additional combat supports such as air defense and vehicle recovery by outfitting many different equipments.[1] The vehicles accommodate 12 people including one infantry squad, the driver, and gunners.[1]
K200A1, Infantry Fighting Vehicle upgraded variant of the base K200 with more powerful engines and transmission. The upgrade also added NBC protection and automatic fire extinguishing system.[1]
K263A1, Self-Propelled Vulcan Combined air defense and IFV variant of the K200A1. The radar-guided 20 mm Vulcan is effective against both 'soft' ground targets and low-flying aircraft.[1]
K216A1, NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle Equipped with detection equipments to trace sources of NBC agents.[1]
K242A1 / K281A1, Mortar Carrier Carries 81mm or 107mm mortar for fire support.[1]
K277A1, Command Post Vehicle Possesses command and control equipments for a field commander.[1]
K288A1, Recovery Vehicle Rescues and repairs damaged armored vehicles.[1]
K221A1, Smoke Generation Vehicle Can produce smoke screen to provide battlefield cover. Works against both visual and infrared sighting devices.[1]
Armored Ambulance Vehicle Functions as an armored ambulance. It is equipped with four litter sets, two automatic oxygen resuscitators and two splinter sets.[1]
K30 Biho, Self-propelled AAA Dedicated self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery variant of the K200, with more powerful engines, transmissions, and armaments.
