Daewoo Precision Industries K1

The Daewoo Precision Industries K1/K1A is a South Korean selective-fire assault rifle developed by Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and manufactured by Daewoo Precision Industries (now SNT Motiv)^[3] and Dasan Machineries (since 2016). It entered service in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1981. Although the K1 uses .223 Remington, it is classified as a submachine gun by the South Korean military and the manufacturer,^[4] because the K1 was intended to replace the M3 submachine gun.

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Daewoo Precision Industries K1A
Daewoo Precision Industries K1A
Type	Assault rifle Carbine
Place of origin	South Korea
Service history
In service	1981–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Persian Gulf War War in Afghanistan^[1] Iraq War^[1]
Production history
Designer	Agency for Defense Development Daewoo Precision Industries
Designed	1977–1982
Manufacturer	Arsenal of National Defense (1980–1981) Daewoo Precision Industries (1981–1999) Daewoo Telecom (1999–2002) Daewoo Precision (2002–2006) S&T Daewoo (2006–2012) S&T Motiv (2012–2021) SNT Motiv (2021–present) Dasan Machineries (2016–present)
Produced	1980–present
No. built	180,000^[2]
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	2.87 kg (6.3 lb) (w/o magazine)
Length	838 mm (33.0 in) (stock extended) 653 mm (25.7 in) (stock retracted)
Barrel length	263 mm (10.4in)

Cartridge	.223 Remington (pre 2014 production) 5.56×45mm NATO (post 2014 production)
Caliber	5.56 mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt (direct impingement)
Rate of fire	750–900 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) (KM193) 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) (K100)
Effective firing range	250 m (KM193) 400 m (K100)
Feed system	Various STANAG magazines.
Sights	Iron sights

Development

Summarize

Perspective

In 1976, the ROKA Special Warfare Command requested a new weapon to replace the old M3 submachine gun. In the following year, ADD launched a project derived from the XB rifle, which started in 1972 to replace licensed M16A1s with indigenous weapons. Under the demands of the ROK-SWC, the new submachine gun must acquire greater firepower, light weight, cost effectiveness, and easy access to spare parts. The first prototypes were made in 1980, and entered service in 1981 after series of field test.

But due to the design of its flash suppressor, the K1 exhibited serious problems in service with the ROK armed forces. The original version had excessive recoil, noise, flash, and weak stock due to increase in firepower. These problems caused difficulty in aiming especially during night operation.

These shortcomings were later fixed by the development and adoption of a new flash suppressor, which has three holes in the top right quadrant to limit muzzle flip under rapid fire and reduces flash to one-third of that of the early K1. This new version of K1 is known as the K1A and its production began in 1982. All K1 submachine guns in service were subsequently modified to the K1A standard.The K1A is often mated with the PVS-4K rail integration system created by Dong In Optical (DI Optical). It is seen as a potential candidate for the "Warrior Platform", a Korean next-generation infantry project.^[5]

Since 2014, newly produced and repaired K1A received new barrel suited for firing 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. Various RIS systems developed by D.I (Dong In) Optical and MITS have been issued in small quantities, primarily to SWC units.

Differences

Most of the time, K1 submachine gun is regarded as a shortened or carbine version of Daewoo Precision Industries K2 assault rifle. However, although the two guns share development history they are very different from each other for the following reasons:

The development of K1 was completed earlier than that of K2.^[6]
The K1 uses the direct impingement gas system, while the K2 uses AK-47 style gas piston system.^[6]
The K1 has 1-in-12 rifling twist for .223 Remington, while the K2 has 1-in-7.3 rifling twist for 5.56×45mm NATO.^[6]

The carbine version of K2 named K2C was developed and shown to the public in 2012 by SNT Motiv.

Variants

XK1: Experimental prototype.
K1: First mass-produced variant. Every K1 has been modified to K1A standard.
K1A: Second mass-produced enhanced variant.
- K1A1/MAX-1/AR-110C: Semi-automatic version of K1A for export civilian market with an extended 16" barrel and stock in compliance of barrel and overall length of the National Firearms Act. All variants were marked 5.56×45mm NATO.

Future replacement

Summarize

Perspective

The S&T Motiv K2C, a carbine variant of the K2 rifle, was provided to the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command (ROK-SWC) for evaluation. However, after a series of tests, the K2C was rejected. Subsequently, the ROK Armed Forces initiated a competition to select a new carbine to replace the K1A.

The procurement process was divided into two programs: the Special Operations Submachine Gun Type I and Type II. The Type I program aimed to develop a new weapon system for mass deployment across the ROK Armed Forces, while the Type II program was a limited procurement intended to fulfill urgent operational needs of selected units, primarily from the ROK-SWC.

On 13 June 2020, the ROK-SWC announced the selection of the Dasan Machineries' DSAR-15PC as the base model for the Type I program. Based on the CAR 816 and other AR-15 platforms, the DSAR-15PC features an 11.5 in (290 mm) barrel and weighs approximately 3 kg (6.6 lb). An initial batch of 1,000 rifles was planned for delivery to gather user feedback, with a total of 15,000 units to be delivered by 2023.^[7]^[8] However, on 14 July 2021, the acquisition was cancelled following a leak of military secrets by a company executive.^[9]

In October 2023, SNT Motiv (formerly Daewoo Precision Industries) announced that its STC-16 carbine had been selected under the Type II program. The carbine, designated as the K13, is a 5.56×45mm short-stroke gas-piston system with a free-floating 292 mm barrel, and weighs approximately 3 kg. A total of 1,710 K13 carbines were planned for delivery as a partial replacement for the K1A.^[10]^[11]^[12] Deployment of the K13 began in February 2024. However, reports soon emerged of cartridge explosions during live fire exercises, though no injuries were reported.^[13]

The Type I program was eventually reinitiated in 2025, with the goal of delivering an additional 16,000 carbines to fully replace the K1A by 2027, at a projected cost of ₩65.483 billion (approximately US$46 million).^[14] Expected competitors include SNT Motiv's upgraded variants of the STC-16: the STC-16A1, featuring direct impingement operation, a slimmer upper receiver and handguard, and a forward assist; and the STC-16A2, which retains the short-stroke gas piston operation but incorporates a forward assist.^[15] Dasan Machineries is also participating with its DSAR-15PQ, equipped with a quick-change barrel.^[16]^[17]

Users

Indonesian Air Force Military Police NCOs with K1 carbines
Cambodia: Used by Special Forces Command (Cambodia)^[18] 137 K1As sold.^[19]
Indonesia: Seen in use by the Indonesian Air Force^[20]
South Korea: Standard-issued submachine gun of the ROK Armed Forces.^[1] Will be partially replaced by the STC16/K13 carbine.^[10]
Papua New Guinea^[21]
Senegal: Received 280 K1A rifles in 2003.^[22]
Singapore: 855 K1As sold to Singapore from a SIPRI small arms report in 2019.^[19]