K200 KIFV

The K200 KIFV (Korea Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a South Korean armoured personnel carrier, originally produced by Daewoo Heavy Industries as a domestic replacement for older armored personnel carriers, such as the M113, in front line service with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces at the time of the K200's development. Since 2009 the K200 has been supplemented by the K21.[3] A total of 2,383 K200 vehicles of all configurations were produced between 1985 and 2006,[3] among which are 111 K200A1 vehicles exported to Malaysia.[4]

K200A1
A South Korean K200A1
TypeArmoured personnel carrier
Place of originSouth Korea
Service history
In service1986 - present
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerAgency for Defense Development
ManufacturerHanwha Defense (originally Daewoo Heavy Industries, later renamed as Doosan DST, follow by Hanwha Defense Systems)
Unit cost$1.41 million (domestic)
$1.32 million (export)
Produced1985 - Present
No. built2,383
Specifications
Mass13.2 tons[1]
Length5.49 m[1]
Width2.85 m[1]
Height2.52 m[1]
Crew3 + 9 passengers[1]
Main
armament
1 x 12.7mm machine gun[1]
Secondary
armament
1 x 7.62mm machine gun[1]
EngineMAN-Doosan D2848T 350 hp (261 kw) at 2,300 rpm[1]
Power/weight26.5 hp/ton[1]
TransmissionAllison Transmission X200-5K[2]
Suspensiontorsion bar[1]
Operational
range
480 km[1]
Maximum speed 70 km/h
6 km/h on water[1]

History
K200 KIFV in Malaysian Army service.

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 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]

In October 2017, Hanwha unveiled an internally-funded upgrade project that would turn the K200 into a modular, multi-purpose vehicle. The design involves stretching the chassis and adding a road wheel for six pairs and removing the back section to create a flat cargo bed to fit various modules that can be swapped out for different missions; initial configurations include modules to act as an ambulance, fuel tanker, minelayer, and communications platform. With ROK Army approval, the company could fully mature the project in two years.[8]

General characteristics

The K200 series of vehicles transport mechanized infantry platoon is designed to keep personnel safe from small arms fire.[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 81 mm and 107 mm mortars. Anti-tank capability can be added by equipping the Metis-M anti-tank missile system.[9] 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.[10]

Variants
K263 SPAAG variant in South Korea service.
  • 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 SPAAG: 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 SPAAG: KM167A1 20 mm M61 Vulcan self-propelled anti-aircraft gun variant of K200A1.[1]
      • K263A3 SPAAG: Improved version of K263A1. A3 features such as improved FCS, electronic protection, safety, etc. All A1 have 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

See also

References
  1. "Doosan Defense Product: Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle" (PDF). Doosan DST. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  2. "Doosan Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle (KIFV)". Jane's.
  3. "The Market for Light Tracked Vehicles (2010~2019)" (PDF). ForecastInternational.
  4. "Doosan DST History". Doosan DST.
  5. "The Market for Light Tracked Vehicles (2009~2018)". ForecastInternational.
  6. "S&T Dynamics Defence Industry Mobile Equipment X200-5K". S&T Dynamics.
  7. "Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle". GlobalSecurity.
  8. Hanwha Unveils K200 Multi Purpose Vehicle Upgrade Plan - Armyrecognition.com, 22 October 2017
  9. "K200 crossing river with Metis-M". emilitarynews.
  10. CMI Defence and Doosan to develop new KIFV tracked armoured with CPWS weapon station - Armyrecognition.com, 11 November 2015
  11. ARG. "KIFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle - Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com.
  12. John Pike. "K-200 Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 31 January 2015.

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