K-200 KIFV

Infobox Weapon


caption=K-200 KIFV in the 2007 Seoul Air Show
name=K-200 IFV
type=Infantry Fighting Vehicle
origin=South Korea
type=Infantry fighting vehicle
is_vehicle=yes
designer=Agency for Defense Development
manufacturer=Daewoo Heavy Industries
production_date=1985 - Present
crew=3 + 9 passengers
length=5.485 m
width=2.846 m
height=2.518 m
weight=13.2 tons
armour=
primary_armament=.50 cal (12.7 mm)
secondary_armament=7.62 mm machine gun, 5.56 mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenades
engine=Daewoo, D2848T
engine_power=350 hp 2300 rpm
suspension=torsion bar
speed=74 km/h, 7 km/h on water
pw_ratio=26.5 hp per ton
range=480 km

Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle K-200 is a South Korean infantry fighting vehicle.

In 1981 the Republic of Korea Army issued a request for proposals for a new Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle (KIFV). Agency for Defense Development had designed and developed it and Daewoo Heavy Industries, Co. (DHI) was a prime contractor for the production of this vehicle. The Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle K-200 is an amphibious personnel carrier manufactured by DaeWoo Industries and based on the American AIFV. In the field of armoured tracked vehicle business, Land Systems of DHI succeeded to be a prime contractor for Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle development program in the early 1980s, a pioneer of Korean defense industries. The KIFV, named as K200, entered production in 1985. In 1994 the first PIP program was completed in the areas of mobility. It includes the upgrade of engine power and replacement with a new fully automatic transmission. Thousands of vehicles have been delivered to the Korean Army. Considerations of family vehicle are interest to the army. This made DaeWoo start to develop family vehicles; such as, 81 mm mortar carrier, 4.2 inch mortar carrier, 20 mm anti aircraft gun (Vulcan Gun) carrier and recovery vehicle in the middle of the 1980s, and all these models have been deployed to the army. Recently, DaeWoo started to deliver NBC reconnaissance vehicle - the first tracked NBC reconnaissance vehicle in the world and Command Post vehicle.

Family Vehicles

K216, NBC RECONNAISSANCE VEHICLEAs the threat of NBC combat is being increased today, the NBC Reconnaissance vehicle could be essential on the modern battlefield. Excellent mobility and survivability maximize combat effectiveness under an enemy NBC agents and quickly repot battlefield contamination.

K242A1 / K281A1, MORTAR CARRIER81 mm and 4.2 inch Mortar carriers maneuver across rough terrain, rivers and mountains in combination with armour and mechanized infantry troops. It maximizes close combat support with a timely and formidable fire.

K277, COMMAND POST VEHICLEThe command post vehicle provides armoured mobility for field commander in a recent moving warfare. To enhance its inherent performance and function, it is equipped with auxiliary power supply, tent, table and chairs, map board and communication system.

K288A1, RECOVERY VEHICLEThe recovery vehicle has a crane and winch, and is able to tow and pull with easy, troubled and disabled vehicles which will later be maintained and repaired.

AMBULANCE VEHICLE The ambulance vehicle was developed for medical treatment of wounded soldier as one of a series of vehicle. It is equipped with four litter sets, two automatic oxygen resuscitators and two splinter sets.

At the end of 1993, the basic vehicles and armored ambulances which were redesigned from K200 were exported to the Malaysian Army.

K200A1

Based on the experience and the know-how from the production of massive amount of K200 Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd. has developed and producing K200A1 the upgraded KIFV for Korean Army. The K200A1 which combined with high protection, high mobility and well equipped crew compartment can meet toughest technical and tactical requirements from the worldwide countries. K200 Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicies has been revealed and proven its superiority by the deployment of UN Peace Keeping Operations in Bosnia.

The K200A1, a product improved version of Korean Infantry Fighting Vehicle provides transportation to infantry squad under armor protection from enemy's fire. It providing for the firing of infantry rifles from inside the vehicle through firing ports under armor protection, as well as fire support to disembarked infantry, utilizing the cal 50 and cal 30 machine gun which are installed on gunner's and commander's cupola.

Highly mobile mechanized infantry forces requires fast moving, highly manoeuvrable vehicles. The K200A1 meet these requirements from the results of a great power-to-weight ratio, state of the art power pack, such as high power diesel engine, fully automatic hydrokinetic transmission, hydrostatic steering system and sufficient suspension system. At a combat weight of 13.2tons and engine power of Convert|350|hp|kW|0|abbr=on, power-to-weight ratio is 26.5 hp per ton. This is hardly surpass by the most up to date infantry combat vehicles or battle tanks. The mobility does not means simply a high vehicle speed and acceleration on hard surfaced road but means well proven cross country mobility of overcoming the forward drive running gear which has five road wheels with torsion hars, and three telescopic shock absorbers on each side.

The K200A1 was tested under the severest conditions over four seasons from the frozen winter to hottest summer, passing through roughest terrains in Korea territory. The environmental test was also performed in the induced temperature condition of-32 to 50 degree Celsius. Its test result sare documented by the Government and finally chosen by Korean Army. The insight accumulated during these tests have contributed to the optimization of the system. Toughest testing includes exhaustive trials and 72 hours non-stop run under tropical climatic conditions in Indonesia.

It carries 12 infantry personnel including driver, gunner and commander. Sustained top speed of K200A1 exceeds 70 km/h on level roads, it accelerates from 0 to 32 km/h in approximately 6.5 seconds, this compares to 10 seconds for the K200. It is fully amphibious with the speed in water of approximately 7 km/h by propulsion of track rotation, which enables water crossing operation without any supporting unit. This mobility is due to the high power to weight ratio of 26.5 hp/ton at the combat weight of 13.2ton, accomplished by Convert|350|hp|kW|0|abbr=on diesel engine incorporated with hydrokinetic, automatic transmission. The integrated powerpack system of K200A1 incorporates the engine, transmission , cooling system, and associated components integrated as one complete package. This capability results in lower maintenance ratio and high reliability.

ee also

* Military of South Korea
* List of military equipment of Republic of Korea
* Republic of Korea Army
* AIFV (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle)
* M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/kifv.htm GlobalSecurity.org]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/kifv.htm Federation of American Scientists]