- Daewoo Precision Industries K3
-
Daewoo Precision Industries K3 
Daewoo Precision Industries K3 LMGType Light machine gun Place of origin 
Republic of KoreaService history In service 1991-present Used by See Users Wars Operation Enduring Freedom
Iraq WarProduction history Manufacturer Daewoo Precision Industries Specifications Weight 6.85 kg (15.10 lb) Length 1,030 mm (41 in) Barrel length 533 mm (21.0 in) Cartridge 5.56x45mm NATO Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt Rate of fire 900 rounds/min Muzzle velocity M193: 960 m/s (3,150 ft/s)
SS109: 915 m/s (3,002 ft/s)Effective range 800 m Maximum range 3,600 m Feed system 200-round disintegrating-link belt or 30-round NATO STANAG magazine Sights Iron sights The Daewoo Precision Industries K3 was the third indigenous firearm developed in South Korea, following the K1A and K2. The K3 is inspired by the FN Minimi and the United States-issued M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. It is manufactured by S&T Daewoo.[1]
Contents
Description
The K3 is a light machine gun resembling the FN Minimi and uses a standard 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. Its greatest advantage is that it is lighter than the M60 and can interchange cartridges with both the K1A and K2. The feed can come from either a 30-round box magazine or a 200-round metal link belt. It can be used with a bipod for the Squad Automatic role, and fitted with a tripod for sustained fire support.
The rear sight is adjustable for elevation and windage, and the foresight can be adjusted for elevation for zeroing. The barrel has a built-in carry handle for ease of changing the barrel. The gun is gas operated, with a rotating bolt.
The weapon system was not designed for customization, due to the fact that most soldiers of the Korean military will not see extended use of their weapons.
Foreign sales
One example of the K3 was purchased by South Africa in 2006, and two examples were purchased by Thailand in the same year.[2] A controversy broke out 2007 in the Philippines when the country's Armed Forces initially selected the FN Minimi rather than picking the K3 or the 5.56 mm Ultimax from Singapore. The AFP's Modernization Program was attacked for showing favoritism towards a Western firearms company over Asian arms manufacturers.[3]
Ultimately, 2000 K3s were acquired by the Philippine Army for their SAW requirement.[citation needed] They, and 150 newly delivered Kia KM450 trucks, were first shown in public on February 18, 2008.
Variants
- K3Para: Shortened version of K3 with RAS and minor modification.
Users
Colombia: 400 K3s acquired in 2006.[2]
Indonesia: 110 K3s acquired in 2006.[2] Used by the Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group.[4]- Republic of Korea[5]
Philippines: 5,883 units were acquired in 2008.[6]
South Korean soldier uses Daewoo K3.
See also
- S&T Daewoo K12
References
- Jane's Infantry Weapons - 2002
- ^ "Business Outline, Defense Business". S&T Daewoo. http://www.sntdaewoo.com/st/business07.html. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ a b c Daniel Watters. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2006". Gun Zone. http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-16.html. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ Archived June 24, 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Kopassus & Kopaska - Specijalne Postrojbe Republike Indonezije" (in Croatian). Hrvatski Vojnik Magazine. http://www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr/hrvatski-vojnik/1612007/ind.asp. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
- ^ http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg27-e.htm
- ^ Philippine Army. "Army Troopers Newsmagazine Vol.2 No.9". Philippine Army. http://www.army.mil.ph/e_publications/Army_troopers/March/ATN_mar_%2009_1st_qtr.pdf. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
External links
Categories:- Light machine guns
- Modern weapons of South Korea
- Machine guns of South Korea
- Firearms stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
