K200 KIFV

The K200 KIFV (Korea Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a South Korean 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]

History

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]

General Characteristics

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 12.7 mm on the side and 7.62 mm 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 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns.^[1] Stronger anti-infantry and anti-material firepower can be brought to bear by equipping a 20 mm Vulcan gun, or 82 mm and 107 mm 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]

In November 2015, Doosan and CMI Defence revealed they had joined to create the Cockerill Protected Weapon Station (CPWS) to increase the firepower of the K200. The turret can support cannons between 20-30 mm, plus a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, including the: CPWS20 20 mm; CPWS 25 mm which can be armed with the M242 Bushmaster, Nexter M811, or Oerlikon KBA; and CPWS30 armed with the M230LF.^[9]

Variants

• K200: First production variant.
  • K216: NBC reconnaissance vehicle. Equipped with detection system to trace sources of NBC agents.^[1]
  • K221: Smoke generating vehicle. Produces two types of smoke to protect from visible light for 90 minutes and infrared for 30 minutes.^[1]
  • K242: Carries 4.2 inch mortar for fire support.^[1]
  • K255: Proposed ammunition resupply vehicle for 155 mm self-propelled howitzer.^[1]
  • K263 Cheongoong: KM167A1 20 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun variant of K200.^[1]
  • K277: Command post vehicle. The vehicle contains various supplements for commanders.^[1]
  • K281: Carries 81 mm mortar for fire support.^[1]
  • K288: Recovery vehicle. Rescues and repairs damaged military vehicles.^[1]
• K200A1: Upgraded variant of the base K200 with more powerful engines and transmission. The upgrade also added NBC protection and automatic fire extinguishing system.^[1]
  • K242A1: Carries 4.2 inch mortar for fire support.^[1]
  • K263A1 Cheongoong: KM167A1 20 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun variant of K200A1.^[1]
    • K263A3 Cheongoong: Improved version of K263A1. A3 features such as improved FCS, electronic protection, safety, etc. All A1 has been upgraded to A3.^[1]
  • K281A1: Carries 81 mm mortar for fire support.^[1]
  • K288A1: Recovery vehicle. Rescues and repairs damaged military vehicles.^[1]

Operators

Map with K200 operators in blue

Current operators

•  South Korea
•  Malaysia^[10]

See also

• M113 armored personnel carrier
• Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV)
• Egyptian Infantry Fighting Vehicle
• ACV-300 - Turkish built version of the AIFV
• Military of South Korea
• List of equipment of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces

References

External links

• Doosan DST - K200 KIFV
• GlobalSecurity.org
• K200 Series on Armour.ws
• Federation of American Scientists